The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-08-07
How New England Town Settled the
Question.

temperance was first heing agitated,
the people of certain hill town in
New England came to the conclusion
that drinking at weddings, funerals,
christenings and barn-raisings was not
for the best interests of the community.
They accordingly organized society,
one of the first in the state, and public
opinion being aroused, the custom of
using liquor on every social occasion,
fell into disuse. However, then as
now, people would drink, and as there
was no saloon, the 'tavern-keeper"
obliged the topers by dealing out
Meadford rum and kindred beverages.
The temperance people finally con-
cluded to try moral suasion and with
that end in view, a committee called
upon their fellow-townsman, the
tavern-keeper, demonstrating with him
and requesting him to discontinue
selling liquors. He saw the reasona-
bleness of their arguments, "But" said
he II cannot make my living keeping
tavern, unless l also keep bar"
Conceding this to be a fact, the follow
ing novel proposition was made: eff
you will close your bar, and sell no
liquor, fifty of us will come once a
year and take dinner with you, paying
one dollar EACH" To this he at once
agreed, Washington's birthday was
chosen as the time, and the bargain
was kept for many years. Later, when
the state passed the "local option" bill,
"no license" was voted at town meet
.ings and has been so voted every year
since. The feast on the twenty-second
of February was moved to the town
hall, and everybody went, After
speeches and music, hundreds of peo-
pie sat down to a bounteous repast,
and enjoyed delightful evening.
:. This festival was, and is yet, the
event of the year in that town. Would
that the vexed question of "license or
no license" could be as happily and
effectually settled all over our broad
land.
Mrs. Clara G. Hoffman,, of Missouri
is to make tour through Oregon dur
ing the fall and may come up into
Washington.
On prominent business corner in
Seattle stands a beautiful drinking
fountain, which is conspicuous re-
hinder of the energy of the temper
ance workers of that city. On one
side are the letters w. G. T. U. and on
the other l. o. &. T. The writer was
much pleased to see this fountain hav-
ing in mind certain long, hot walk
through the streets of sister city,
seeing no chance of getting a drink of
water, but passing not less than twenty
saloons.
The Union Signal of July 2, has a
half column recounting the doings of
the w. G. I. U. in Mason County. We
wish it were possible to induce the
public to read this valuable temper
ance paper. The members of our
Unions would not then be so continu-
ally confronted with the question.
"Well, what are you folks doing, or
what are you trying to dol" Such
questions are disheartening to say the
least, coming as they generally do
from temperance people and people
who should understand the aims and
ends of temperance work. 1t indicates
deplorable ignorance; toward dis
polling this ignorance the press is do
ing effective work.
We notice with pleasure that gar
lands OF violets fastened with pink rib
bon were thrown over the bow of the
new boat of the Boston and bingham
line, by the little maid who performed
the act of christening. This welcome
departure from the usual custom of
breaking bottle of wine over the bow,
was made the subject of vote Of
thanks by the w. c. T. u, seut
through its secretary to the manager
of the company.