The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
oUrKNITIED THE RUMseLLgR.
The Novel and Successful Plan Adopted by
the Woman of an Lndiann Town.

The Novel and Successful Plan Adopted by
the Women of an Indiana Town.
1t was toward the close OF the war. The
boys from the front were coming home to
Moore's Hill, Ind. The college halls that
had been deserted at the first call of the
bugIe were to be peopled again. The
towns life was to be taken up again where
it had been left off, and the people bad
turned face expectantly to the future,
says a correspondent of the Commercial
GazeHe.
Quick to see that the growth Of the col
lege meant business opportunity to the
town, at this very time man established
a saloon in the place. The news spread
through the village: "a groR shop has
boon opened" You may imagine the
sensation that il stirred-a grog shop in
Moore's Hill-and the worthy old presi-
dent OF the college in his catalogue refer
ring 10 the community as a moral one.
where such q thing as saloon would
not be tolerated for an instant"
The problems of the dark DAYS
of the war the struggles with poverty
at the hearthside, equaled only by
those other struggles where cannon roared,
had sharpened the wits and quickened
the wills of the women of Moore's Hill.
In '65 with them 10 hear was TO think to
think was TO act and the first customer
had scarce entered Moore's Hills new
saloon before the door was derkened by a
woman's figure She was the spokesman
for her neighbors-come to buy out the
shop. and in her hand she held the pun
chase money.
But | amt here to sell out. I've got
to make living, and Pm going to make
it. I've got as much right in Moore's Hill
as you have and money won't make me
get out.
Thus spoke the keeper. If the potency
of money had failed to Gust him, one
would conclude that the attempt was
! over BY no meansl A private meeting
was held, where was evolved the most
novel method of warfare ever waged \ by
woman against man.
Next morning, before the astonished
bartender could interpose, file OF solemn
faced. determined women passed through
the door of the saloon, and having ar
ranged themselves deliberately about the
room. drew out their work bags and adj
iusled their sewing caps, A customer
now and then struggled in at the door.
He glanced sheepishly along the walls at
the awful sight that stared him in the
face. fumbled out few remarks about the
weather, the crops, and darted out into
the fresh air. The village doctor peered
through the door. and fled over
the hills so fast that, tradition
SAYS, the boys might have played
nine pins upon his coat tails. Thus
it went-rGther, one should say, thus
went the customers. At noon not dram
of liquor had been sold. The women had
determined TO knit the saloon out OF
town. Twelve brought n fresh relay OF
knitting women, but the saloon keeper,
poor man, had no relief force. and he
stood at his post all day long unassisted.
At in the evening the throng OF the
morning appeared again; ana the next
morning the keeper saw once more mis-
friends of the afternoon. Twice ne tried to
smoke his unwelcome visitors away, thrice
he tried 10 lock them in but he always
failed. For days the unequal conflict
| ragged. Meantime no customer dared run
the gantlet; business was az standetill.
| The needles flew increasingly; the wooden
stockings grew and grew. and the saloon
owner Internationally surrendered. The
knitting needle is mightier than the dem
iiohn, or words to that effect Now to
make this narrative OF q local legend ro-
mantle, one mead only add that the de-
spised and prosecuted, the outwitted and
outknitted vendor OF liquors became one
OF the best known and most liked citizens
of the comm unity and such is the fact