The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-24

Druggists lodged the blue laws yes
terday, and all day it was as easy to
buy q cigar in any drug store in Wor-
cester as it is to lose money playing the
stock market.
Three weeks ago yesterday Chief of
Police James NJ brennan sprung a
revival of the blue laws on druggists
in this city, but was kind enough, ac-
cording to their way of looking at the
matter, to allow them to sell soda
and ice cream to anyone who cared to
buy.
At the time the drug store men did
not know the reason for Chief Dren-
mans stand on the soda and ice cream
question. For two Sundays some of
them decided to conform to the law,
and accordingly. covered up their cigar
cases, so that not the slightest vestige
of a cigar remained. Even the propri-
etor of a restaurant on Main street
covered up his cigar case.
On both days the druggists stood be
hind the counters with a look on their
faces that could not touch the one Capt.
Matthews wore when he found he was
ordered to station for duty several
months ago, and refused all kinds of
3 customers who wanted to buy Ha
vanas.
They said things about Chief Dren-
nan and the blue laws that would not
look well in print, and after two Sum
days decided that it would not be a
bad thing to give the law run, and
accordingly Saturday night they left
the covers off the cigar cases and yes
terday did good business.
Cigars were dealt out of the cases as
rapidly as they are disposed of any
time during the year, and everybody
looked happy. 1t was not even neces-
sary to wink at the cigarman to buy a
choice smoke, and the old refrain about
the iceman was in it with the cigar
man.
Almost every druggist in Worcester
sold eigars-just the same as he has
done for the past two Sundays-but it
was not necessary to wink at him,
and a person did not need to buy three
and give one back to the drug clerk to
make sure that he could get another
lot later on.
None of the druggists hung UP signs
announcing the fact that the blue laws
were joke and cigars would be sold,
anyway, but everybody knew they
would be sold, with the possible excep-
ton of Chief of Police James M. Dren-
nan and some of his men.
The druggists have regarded the
laws as joke from the start, but a
Mstle contemplation over the fact that
few dollars would have to be paid
on the order of Judge Utley for the vio-
lation of the Sunday law made them
cautious for a time. But yesterday
they could not stand the loss of bust
ness, and MANY weeds were disposed
of. Up to late hour last night not a
single complaint was lodged at either
station against storekeeper in Wor-
cester for violation of the Sunday law.
Chief brennan did not send out any
men in citizens clothes to make an at
tempt to get line on druggists and
others who dispose of unlawful things
on the Lords day, although he stated
that he would bring in every man
caught disposing of cigars and make
him answer to the court
Sergt. Hill. who was In charge of sta
ton yesterday afternoon, did not hear
Of any violation of the Sunday law,
and the patrolmen travelling on the day
force received no instructions about the
enforcement Of the blue laws. They
heard nothing on the matter outside
Of what they saw in the newspapers.
They knew that Chief brennan wanted
the laws enforced, and would have re-
ported any violation of the law they
noticeds providing their attention was
4 Ito it. Nothing in the line of a
wi4,ten order calling attention OF the
patrolmen and other members Of the
department to the fact that 1t was
against the law to sell tobacco of any
kind on Sunday, was posted and not
one officer on the force made any at
tempt to find a violater of the law.
One of the prominent druggists on
Main street told The Spy man that he
intended to sell cigars, and If he was
brought into court he would stand the
loss. He could not afford to keep open,
he said, on Sunday if he was deprived
of the profit made from his cigar sales
and might just as we'll close up his drug
store. Other druggists were Of the