The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1895-05-04
THE YELLOW FLAG,

A few years ago was passing along a
street in one Of our large cities. when
came to barricade erected across the
sidewalk. l observed yellow flag sus-
pended from house adjoining. l asked
a policeman what it meant He said they
had dangerous and infectious disease
in the house, and the flag was to give no.
tice of that fact to the public, and that
the barricade was to prevent persons
from passing the infected premises. He
also stated that it was done by order of
the City Council, and In my rural SIM
plicity thought. How well the city is
governed; how careful the fathers are of
the health of their children and of the
strangers who sojourn in their midst
l retraced my steps and took another
street.
| While walking along and thinking of
the excellent sanitary regulations jof the
city. noticed ahead of me red flag sus-
pended over door that opened on the
street. Remembering the yellow flag
and its object, naturally concluded that
here was another warning. and that an
infection most dangerous and deadly was
lurking in ambush beneath the folds of
the red flag Approaching nearer, dis
covered that I was correct in my suspici-
ons, for I read upon its surface these
words, in gilt letters: FANCY DRINKS
AND CHOICE L1quoRs" l also observed
the words WALK IN, OIL the flag; and
seeing another guardian of the peace
near me, l approached him and asked
him what the flag meant l Informed
him that had just seen yellow flag,
and wondered if this red one was also a
warning to the public of the dangerous
proximity of disease and death. The city
watchdog looked at me for moment with
the most unbounded astonishment and
inquired. "Where you FRONT Can't you
read? Don't you see it's sign OF 8
drinking saloon?" Informed the gen
tlemanly official that was stranger ir
the city from an extremely rural district
and did not always fully comprehend al
| saw or heard. Seeing my benighteG
condition he softened in his manner, anC
informed me of the nature of drinking
saloon. He sai9 it was licensed by the
City Council, that there were number
of hundred in the city, and that large
revenue was derived from the sale of the
licenses. | inquired who paid the cos
of prosecuting the criminals who became
intoxicated at the saloons and, while un
der the influence Of the liquor, there OBJ
tanned, committed the many crimes the
history of which was published in the
daily papers. He looked surprised, an6
I continued;
Don't you know, my friend, that be
ueath that flag turks disease more fata
and death more certain than beneath tht
flag Of yellow! Don't you know that the
disease here engendered ruins man, sou
and body, brings want and poverty to hi'
wife and children? Why does the city
barricade the street and hang out vel
low flag to warn people of their danger
yonder, while here men are invited t
, drink and die?'
The man with star on his breas
quietly remarked, Say, stranger, ain
you a lunatic escaped from some asylum
, Amt your friends looking for you, ant
offering reward for your lecovery?'
!, passed on. discovering that the seed had
sown had fallen on very stony ground
The officer looked after me until hastily
turned the first corner, and I have nj
doubt but that to this day, whenever h'
J hears Of an escape from iunatic asylum
he firmly believes that he might hav'
pocketed the reward by my arrest.
The tent gallery where youl can hav'
q IL pictures for a5 cents will remain il