The herald., 1893-05-22
mo WATER FOR THE THIRSTY
People in Los Angeles Must Pa
trOnize Saloons or Go Dry.
A Fact Which the Temperance People
Should Consider.
Streets and Parks Unprovided with
Drinking Fountains To get Glass
OF water One Must Stop at
Hotel and Cry for Front.

There lie necessity in Los Angeles for
a town pump.
Some people might cay public fount-
ain, but pump is good enough vernacu-
lar for the average citizen.
1t would do great deal toward popu
larizing water as beverage.
Now that the Kelley institute ia turn
out graduates in considerable numbers
from the chronic jags in the city, the
need of such an improvement lie all the
more apparent.
Since the wrecking of the artistic
fountain at the intersection Of Main and
Spring streets come months ago, many a
man with the impulse to reform has
fallen because there was no means Of
uuenching his legitimate thirst.
The cup that cheers and does not ine-
briate does not greet the thirsty individ-
ual at the street corners, and he is
obliged to have recourse to water on the
side.
1t is really a remarkable thing that
the temperance people of Los Angeles
confne themselves to the unenviaDle
task OF spottng the thirst-consumed
people who drop into the places where
cooling drinks are dispensed, and the
dipensers thereof, and do not supply a
substitute in the shape OF sparkling
fountains that contain the limpid liquid
which they contend is all sufficient for
the dry threats OF humanity.
One insignificant attempt in this direc-
ton was made at the Temperance Tenn
pie building on Temple street, where q
messly little faucet was provided, but
from which the dirty tin cup has long
since disappeared.
There are number of horse-troughs
scattered about at various points in the
city, but when thirsty man wants to wet
his whistle, he has no place to go except
the pleasant retreats where he can get
just what he wants.
When the temperance folks get move
on them and supply drinking fountains
at convenient places, they will contri-
butte practical argument in favor OF
water straight, and confer boon upon
their fellow citizens, which will go q
long ways toward convincing people of
their earnestnese
'.Can you tell me where I can get a
drink OF water" asked q cum. tanned
countryman yesterday, as he stopped on
Spring street to make the inquiry.
with or without" replied the per-
son to whom the query was made, mind
full of the law which closes up the
fountains more or less tight on Sunday.
"Plain water" obstinately insisted
the countryman.
The question was a puzzler. If the
man bad only intimated by the time
honored custom of winking the other
eye it would have been no algebrac
problem. but an Incorporating in
sistence upon plain water invested the
subject with a piquant interest, which
the countryman did not appreciate.
The conversation took place at the
corner of Temple and Spring streets.
The Los Angeles man looked up and
down the street full of hospitable in
tent and endeavored to think of some
place where. in obedience to the law,
there was some spotin which the thirsty
visitor could assuage the tickling sensa-
lions which might have assaied him on
the desert, but seemed somewhat alb
surd in q city OF $4,000 inhabitants.
81 know a side entrance or two" he
finally remarked
81 told Mary | wouldn't 60 in ga
LOOM" said the sunburnt son of toll. II
guess III stick to it,"
LET me see," said the Los Angeles
man, "there's the hotels. No; they
have no water on tap. There is water
inside the county courb house. That is
| locked up, however. I'll tell you what
you do. see only one chance for you.
Go to the Nadeau or Hollenbeck hotels,
register, take room and ring for q
pitcher OF ice water. That 10 the best l
eau do for you."
The countryman walked away with a
two byf four look of legitimate disgust
on his face and compromised by going
into drug store and buying some soda
water.
When people who get thirsty and don't
want suthin', for Mary's sake, come to
town it would be a good idea for them
to bring canteens with them and fill
them before leaving home.
Even at the parks there are no accom-
modations for visitors who visit them
with the exception of modest little
trickling fountain at the Sixth street
square, where person can get a tir cup
full OF water by waiting long enough.
The chance for practical philanthropy
was never so great in the city as at
present. Even the man who ordinarily
likes straight Kentucky sometimes
1riuks wotar and xrhar 10 xuo.A. =.