Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-11-30
Church and Saloon

Inc saloon Is everywhere, 1t Is the
most marked institution OF the neigh
| borhood and an interesting study it is,
| The social vortex revolves about it
making 1t the central distributing point
| Of the neighborhood gossip and the
| place where are formulated alike the
| politicians and the churchman's new
est plans. Usually il precedes the
church, but II the latter does not come
to ii. Mahomet like, it goes to the
church, frequently taking its place just
across the way, and it is no uncommon
sight to witness worshippers dropping
into il both before and after service
Almost invariably it is rambling,
labyrinthine structure, frequently a
combination grocery store, hotel, ly-
ing house, bowling alley and dance hall
If you wish an hours rest at the hotel
you must take it in the barroom, there
you must write your letters, and to
reach the dining room you must pass
through it. 1t is a popular loafing
place. Pool tables give loungers a
ready seat. It's walls are a study in
the curious, and unlike those of char
aeteristic American sa'oons, They pos
sess at least one virtue in suggesting
mind and appealing to the aesthetic.
the heroic and the holy things Of life.
They betray a healthy element still
surviving. Quaint carvings, pictures
Of the castled Rhine, glimpses OF vine
yards ard rural calm, laid Oh the walls
by hands Of poetic touch supply the
brutal features of the common Ameri-
ran grog shop. One Of the most beau
tiful and suggestive of it's access
series is the dove cage. 1t is
frequently found in the barroom or
under the shady, back porch surround
ed by ivy or morning glory vines. One
IS struck by the incongruity If it's pres
ance in such place. The moralizer is
moved at the contrast of rum working
its ruin and depravity on one hand
and the whiteness of the dainty pris-
oners, their billings and cooirgs, ali
symbolizing the omnipresence and eter-
nal solieitude Of the spirit of love. In
the absence of the Saloonkeeper it Is
no uncommon occurrence TO find tls
wife or daughter behind the bar Zeal
ng out liquor and bandying crude jokes
and witticisms with the happy honest,
guffawing crowd. 1t must, however. be
said in justice 10 these whole-souled
people tUat NDlic lNEy GtdEiy ADft Nhr4A
lager. drunkenness is practically an IN
known vice among them and tavern
brawls IRE Of the rarest.
Sport for narksmea.
The bird shoot Is a unique custom
brought over from the fatherland, and
still kept up in this interesting com
nunity It is uaually held on a Sun
day afternoon aid often in connection
with the kirmiss or church festival 1t
is a great event to the local country
side and attracts all the crack shots
for miles around whose blunderbusses
have become famous in that vicinity.
And marksmen they are, at some Of
whom even William Tell might not
sheer A great, grotesque bird, carved
from tough oak stump is bolted 20
IN iron rod fastened to a pole fifty or
more feet high. The marksmen make
up a pot. charging Il quarter for each
shot To cut away wing counts for
81, the head and tail s. each. or some
such portion. and to bring down the
body is to take the pot. Occasionally
some irreyerent crowd from the city
will swoop down upon the scene with
sharpshooter or two and carry off