Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25

people away from saloons that 1t proved to
be a profitable enterprise, and now there
are six in successful operation in New
York. Bishop Potter recently made the
statement that the failure of two saloons
could be traced to these wagons, in which
a good meal may be had for 10 cents. The
profits from the wagons have paid for nine
free ice water fountains that are now in
operation In hot weather at each of these
fountains there is always a long line of
thirsty men, who, 1t is reasonable to sup
pose, were formerly wont to line up before
a bar. Two hundred and twenty-five dol
lars will construct one of these fountains
and supply it with a years ice.
The Coffee Van.
Another step in practical temperance is
the coffee van that the church society has
just purchased. 1t is intended as one of
squad to bring coffee and sandwiches to
street laborers and men employed on build
ings, and even to factory employees. 1t is
proving a great boon to coachmen. who
have to wait out in the streets for hours
New York society people have begun to
employ it. The other night w. X. Wander
bilt ordered it for his big ball. There were
800 carriages and every coachman was sup
piled with sandwiches at total cost to Mr.
Vanderbilt of $50.
These vans and coffee wagons will doubt
less prevent the consumption of vast
amount of liquor but they are not the
ideal substitute for the saloon. The church
society thinks that il has found this. An
nouncement has just been made that cot
fee house is to be established which will
offer the non-alcoho!ic attractions of a Sa-
loon and others that a saloon does not
possess. 1t is to be called Squirrel lnn-no-
body knows exactly why, unless because it
is to furnish high living on a cheap scale.
A benevolent woman has turned a saloon
out of a house that she owns on the Bow
cry and given the place, rent Free to the
church society. Here the most important
experiment up to date in practical temper
ance Will be made. If the inn proves a
success, If men gather there instead of at
the saloons, if they show disposition to
enjoy all the comforts of bar room with
out a bar and to spend their money for
coffee and ginger ale instead of beer and
whisky, il will have demonstrated that the
practical temperance idea is the best meth
cd of temperance reform for American
cities.
A Temperance Inn.
This Squirrel Inn will not be a charity.
The fundamental idea is to make il self
supporting, like the lunch wagons. The
building is not very large-only % by so
feet-but good deal will be got into IL.
ON the first floor will be a restaurant and
a library. There is no room for a billiard
table, but checkers, chess and cards NAV
De prayed Just as they are in the back
room OF saloon. The papers will be on
file, and it is hoped that sort of club
that will supply music and conversation.
There will be beds on the top floor at Is
cents each for the night, and little cubicai
rooms another.
These accommodations for dodgers are the
only deviation from the line of similarity
to a saloon, I'D ii seems as If the place
would be more attractive IL one floor was
made into a reading room with tables rath-
er than into sleeping apartments.
The Squirrel Inn is not to be for ums !"
neither for the excellent young men who
belong to the churches and Christian asso
Citations. There is to be nothing religious
about the place, which will be a resort for
the vast number Of respectable workingmen
who now hang OUT at the saloons 'Es-
tabiished institutions of this sort. the
church clubs and guilds and the Y. M. G.
A." says Robert Graham, the manager of
boys, but we want to reach the bad ones"
,''What is the difference between your en-
terprise and the Mills House?" he was
asked.
Ours will be the Mills House-a good
lodging house-plus the qualities and at
fractions of the saloon"
What is Done I'm England
Mr.. Graham has had wide experience
with this practical temperance in Great
Britain, where the idea has been tried with
remarkable results. Twenty-Five years ago
the British Workman Public House Com
pany was formed in Liverpool to build for
the docA laborers temperance taverns to
take the place of saloons. This undertak-
houses similar to what the Squirrel Inn will