The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-19
ELooUENce AT FALLS CHURCH.



Virginia has a puritanical village.
1t is Falls Church, seven miles from
washington and within ashort distance
OF Camp Alger, recently abandoned by
the volunteer soldiers. The town reg
ulations are ridiculed and fought by
the native virginian. and since the arr
rival of the troops in the State open
war has been declared. A violator OF
the blue laws appeals his case to the
State authorities secures jury, and
is sure Of acqufttal.
Falls Church is strictly a Northern
settlement and the Southerner resents
the New England ideas there. Prohi-
bition is hobby with the villagers. and
as Camp Alger was within a prohibi-
ton jurisdiction the soldiers were dis
appointed in not being able to partake
literally Of famous Southern decoctions.
Recently the Town Council made 1t an
offence for any one to sell ice cream.
candy and soda water on Sunday.
Fruit and all delicacies were also pro-
hibited. The temptation to violate the
law was great, though, and the boys
in blue sometimes found mountain
dew in the woods and behind stone
fences. Arrests were numerous and
all offenders were promptly punished
by heavy fines imposed by the Prohi-
bition Magistrate of Falls Church.
Only ten miles from the village is the
historic county seat of Fairfax county.
1t is Fairfax Court House. and Attorney
A. A. Lipscomb. typical Southerner.
representing the defendants. appealed
his case to the courts there, where he
received jury trial. The jury was
composed Of native virginians, and their
animosity for the puritanical town was
evident
The defendants did not even deny
assisting the soldiers to allay their
thirst. In fact, they admitted that
they had prepared that seductive drink
a mint julep. The lawyer hoped for
light fine in place of the one of 5000 and
a Jail sentence imposed by the Falls
Church Justice. He depended upon
his argument.
He began by saying:
when God Almighty created man he
created man with a thirst" The jury
smiled. The courtroom was filled with
the residents of the county and they
listened attentively to the next remark.
The lawyer pictured the German in
his beer garden and described the
Frenchman drawing 'the soul from the
grape"
'In our own country we have the
mountain dew and some of our lips
have tasted it,"
The jurymen moved uneasily in their
seats.
"The fragrant mint springs from the
grave of every true Virginian, and
blended with the essence of the corn
and rye makes the julep, Americas ma
tional drink"
The courtroom was filled with applaus
at this and the twelve men looked very
dry.
"virginia's historic hospitality is in
jeopardy" continued the lawyer. THE
war drums beat. and the soldiers Of the
North. South. East and West are en-
camped on Virginian soil. Is Justice
Crocker, justice of peace by the grace
of God, of Falls Church, Providence
district, Fairfax county, to compel US
to repudiate our time-honored and sa-
cred traditions? Is he to force us to
dash aside the warm welcome OF the
julep for the fetid water of Camp AL
ger? Shall the Third Virginia volun-
teers forget their early training? Talk
about drinking. want to say that 1t
was the groggy sailor and the tipping
soldier that pulled down at Santiago
the Spanish flag and flung Old Glory to
the breeze to float forever. / ask you
again, Are we to taboo our mint julep.
fried chicken, and corn pone, and live
on Boston baked beans?'
When he finished, the spectators
shouted with applause. and the jury
men solemnly filed from the room to
return one minute later and announce
that the defendants were mot guilty"
This was considered great victory
for the virginians. but the villagers de-
termined to get even. They turned their
attention to soft drinks, candy and ice
cream. 1t was announced in the church.
eS tnat the SOiulerS VINO CAME W toNH
on Sunday were desecrating the Sab
bath. A meeting of the council was
held.
I'VE will prevent their coming to
town." said one man. LET us have all
lights put out at 9 o'clock" remarked
another. IF they cannot buy anything,
they won't come" added a third. A
fourth member produced an old law
that was in force when the town was
organized. 1t had been repealed. but he
proposed to have II re-enacted. His
suggestion was adopted and typewrit-
ten notices appeared all over the viii
lage. They read:
AT a meeting of the Town Council Of
Falls Church, Va. held on Monday
night, July 25. the following ordinance
was re-enacted and is now in force:
Sec. 23.-No person shall hereafter
be allowed to sell soda water. ice cream.
cigars or other merchandise on Sunday