Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-07
JAcKsoN's DRAMsHoPs.
The Saloon Men and Their Patrons Con-
forming Ia the NaxxU ,x~

under the blaze of the electric lights
He didn't do this, however. to sample
their liquors, but to see how the saloon
keepers were adjusting themselves to
the provisions of the new law and hear
what they had to say about it.
The new law went into effect Satur.
day, and Monday the saloon men COM
menced abolishing their screens and
removing their 'wet groceries" to the
front part of their dram-shops as it re-
quires. A bar-room without screens is
an innovation in Mississippi, and looks
odd enough even from the outside.
How it feels to the regular frequenters
of such places is perhaps best express
ed by the fact that some of them walk
in and while getting their drinks,
stand with raised umbrellas between
themselves and the open door, trying
like Adam and Eve, in the fig-leaf act,
to conceal their nakedness.
On Pearl street, where there are five
retail dram-shops, the LEADERS repre-
found all of the screens gone
and the bars in front or i'll process of
removal. Some of them are having
new bars constructed to run all the
way from the front to the rear of the
With the screens gone, it is far more
difficult for a ram-shop keeper to sell
to a minor without detection, and the
provision of the new law which pre-
scribes penalty for any bar-keeper to
allow minor to enter and remain in
his dram shop, is also far less liable to
be evaded. When the LEADER reporter
entered the dram-shop of Mr. S.
Schwartz to have few words with the
and see how things looked,
ne was followed in by a young man
about 20. Mr.. Schwartz promptly in
luired the young mans age, and learn
ng that he was minor, politely insist
I'd on his retiring at once, which he
lid. He said it was his intention to
,ry to faithfully observe the provisions
If the new law, but that it would be a
yery difficult matter and operate seri-
,usly against his business.
At another place the bar-keeper said
t was a - bad law for the liquor
eller and the Legislature ought to be
ent to that place where they don't
lave any winter for passing it. He
aid taking down the screens was driv
ng away trade, because a good many
hurch members and other people who
re good customers, felt shy about GO
ng into his saloon and drinking with
nut them.
Still another saloon man was seen
Who took doleful view of the outlook.
70 use his own words, ''under the new
aw a saloon keeper is in constant mis-
ry because he don't know when he is
'oing to get jerked for violating it. This
,erson and the other person has already
,een coming to me and warming me
gainst selling liquor to so-and-so who
$ in the habit of getting drunk. To
lay young man not 81 years old came
n and wanted drink. l thought he
wasn't old enough, but he said he was,
until told him there was penalty in
he new law for those who lied about
heir age, and then he backed out. If
We hadn't had lease on this building,
We never would have had our license
enewed Half the saloons in jackson
will have to go in Il months. 1t won't
,ay to carry on a business like things
re now"
Just then a dudish looking negro
walked in, raised his umbrella and
sked for drink and the reporter
eft.
Jackson now has nine dramshops, all
# which paid the high license tax re-
Iuired by the special law for this place
lnder the law of 1888, $1,000 to the
state and $1,000 to the City. -Four of
hem were renewed at a meeting of the
Board of Mayor and Alderman last Fri
Iay-L. Fragiaccomo's, M. L. Berbo-
'itch's, A. Rienheimer's and Michael
Iart's. The new law had not then been
and they were allowed by
he Board to waive ten days of unex-
bred time on their old licenses to get
u under the old law. What the Board
will fix the tax at for city purposes
lnder the new law has not yet been de-
ermined.
The Attorney General having decid-
I'd there is no trouble on the score of
the LEADER suggests that
low while the liquor men are feeling
blue" would be an excellent time to
all a local option election and wipe
nut the dram-shops altogether. What
10 the champions of local option say?
Look Out. Alcohol Sellers,
There is no provision in the new Code
,hapter on dram-shops for the sale of