The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-05-02
GOOD TOWN IN GEORGIA.
Liquor, Negroes, Cards. Tobacco, and
Dancing barred in Demorest

Dancing Barred in Demorest
"The Posts story last Sunday about tn.
| old town Of Bladensburg," said gentle
| man from Georgia, reminds me that W.
| have one in our State that is far from
being like the Maryland town. | refer Il
Demorest, where there is no revelry By
| night, nor by day, either
This town is one of the pets of tht
millionaire publisher and prohibitionist OF
New York, DemOrest IL is a village
where vice is unknown, liquor is abhored
| even tobacco is under the ban. An effort
was made to prohibit the sale of the weed
in any shape. As | am too poor TO smoke
regard il as a step in the right direction
The man who smokes is liable to drink
and even 10 swear-especially if he buys
his cigars in DemOrest. They are known
| as lottery cigars-one ia a thousand draw
There are nearly a thousand people liv
| ing in the town. There is only one negro
in the whole place, consequently Iyucnings
| are rare. This negro is young woman
in the employ of Southern family. 4, le
other families resent the presence of tins
lonely African. Lots are not sold 10 Eehi.
opians. Nearly all the residents are
from New England and their love for the
freedman has faded under the Southern
sun. Nearly all the people are new-com-
ers. and though from the peaceable CHRIS
tian region Of the Union, there seems 10
be al aggressive spirit among some of
them. For instance, some lime ago Two
doctors of divinity hitched. They were
both apparently active men, for they
preached and practiced medicine, toe. Dr.
Fitch, one Of them, had d third occupa-
ton. He engineered the weekly paper.
DR. Patterson, not to DE behind his rival,
added the pOStmaSteTship 10 his MANY
functions. Bad blood was brewed between
them. The editor one day sent down an
invoice OF his papers to be mailed 10 his
many thousand subscribers, but ne Jailed
10 accompany the papers with the price
or the postage. The postmaster refused 10
help his brother. or to accept the stat
ment that the bank was closed, and that
he could not get any money. The bank
had never been opened. DR.. Fitcn went
down to the post-otiice, which was IN the
drug store, and was also under the man
agement Of the busy Or. Patterson. These
men of medicine and gospel hitched, and
the fur flew Tor awhile.
DemOreSJ Is elSnJy-nine miles from
Atlanta, on the Southern Railway, and
the site was formerly Chief Justice
Bleckley's wild turkey range 1t is d very
healthy town None die and few eat. The
Yankees there live on bread and Irish
potatoes. They bake the bread once d
week and cook the potatoes in the jack
ct The drummers avoid the town, since
an evangelist grip WaS searched On sus-
plclOn that II contained a flask of Whis-
Ky. OF course the suspicion was IN
founded. The flask vas empty. There is
line hotel, handsomely furnished but
Few guests ever stop there. IL has been
closed several times, the Sheriff assisting
Inc Town ana county are settling randy
During The last cold spell several lam
lilies from Ohio landed there. They
bought each one a HILL and We're still dig
ging for life when last heard rom.
"DtmOreSJ Is Il WUmdn'S rights town
The women intend TO hold all the Offices
Il Is solemn and dimly religious always
The residents bar dancing, and say that
card playing leads TO the place which is
supposed to lie somewhere between OIL
and China. Demorcst promises 10 IeIorm
the Stale OF its adoption. ana il may be
that they VIII devise ways and meals 10
do away with lynchinsS. Ii prOmuIgateS
new and advanced ideas and holds aloft
the torch Of d higher and brighter evil
iZatiOn, but they don't want The turch's
light dimmed by the shadow Of my ne
gro The promoter presented The town
with church ana a bell Those who live
under the caves Of the sanctuary can
hear its low, sllVery tones, as Jhry float
over the city bordering on the Blue
Ridge. Demorest Is d wonderful Mace
Mooushiners We're never known 10 invade
its sacred precincts since Mr. DsmOreSI
launched his fiTst cottage there They
say the place Is haunted.
~ ell, I've seen both, BladensbuFg and
DemOTest. / don't drink ana attend
church occasionally, Dut l hope 1 may
soon lose my government JOB II / hadn't
rather live IN Bladeusburg than This
Georgia mountain town"