The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
WHAT ONE MAYoREss DID.
Trsnsformed saloon Into a Mission

House.
Although Lydia Mayer, of Brownsville,
l.. l., may not be as much OF heroine
as was Joan of Arc, in her time she ac-
complished something that promises well
for her future being. She is ony sixteen
years of age. She has transformed a
saloon into what may for want Of bet
ter name be termed mission house. II is
true that in achieving this she has had
assistance, but il was she who inspired and
organized them. and above all, it was she
who conceived the original idea.
Brownsville is the largest purely He
brew settlement In America. II has
population of $4,000, and within its limits
are saloons enough for such a number
perhaps more than enough. As a rule
the Heb ews are abstainers, but as they
are chiefly engaged in the manufacture
OF clothing, there naturally occurs sti ikes
among them now and then. During such
times the strikers make the saloons their
headquarters. and spend more money in
cigars and lager beer than is pleasing TO
their families.
Lydia Mayer has three brothers. who
in the strike of October last spent most of
their ample leisure in the Crescent Cafe"
1t was convenient TO their residence and II
possessed such attractions for idle young
men as billiard tables. a roulette table
Though that was not the name they gave
~, and the seductive game of penuchle
Now, although Lydia is only few months
over sixteen, she secretary of the Beth
Sarah Club. and she is SO practical that
after deciding that certain thing is either
bad or of no use she takes steps to have 1t
disappear. She entertained a strong dis
like for the Crescent Cafe. She thought
it was too near her house, and when she
saw her brothers growing partial TO 4; she
wrote TO the license commissioners in
forming them that five saloons were too
many in a suburban block. The commits
sioners thanked her kindly for the infor.
nation and promised TO consider the mat
ter, but they did nothing.
Lydia next moved a resolution in her
club to the effect that the Crescent Cafe
was situated within the forbidden distance
from church or school. which resolution
was carried unanimously and forwarded
TO the commissioners, who, however. took
no action This neglect angered Lyoia and
so what did she do but take the stump
and. with other women and girls who be-
lieved in her. raised such an awful comrno-
ton in Brownsville that the politicians got
scared.
Look here" they said TO the COM |
missioners. those chits of girls-confound |
them-have fathers and brothers and |
sweethearts and they'll just swamp US at |
he coming election IL you don't do some
hing
The Crescent Cafe was one one pretence
,r another deprived of its license. after
which its late proprietor went TO Lydia
With tears in his eyes.
Il have wife and seven children" he
pleaded, and i can do nothing hut keep
saloon
Perhaps you only think So said Lydia:
what is the matter with keeping a Miss
on House,"
Mission House.
conversion OF people she said. "or any
hing like it, Let me explain
This she did so lucidly that the saloon
-eeper sold his bar fixtures and bought
ables and chairs and knives and forks and
rockery, and scattered books and periodi-
ais over hall that was wont to resound
18th the clink Of glass and the disputes
political economists. and behold he is
laldng more money dispensing rolls and
Office in the Crescent Mission" than he |
sed 10 make in retailing beer As for the | !
resent Mission ii really does not stand
the corner of Pitkin and Ssckman Street {
n the conversion Of anyone in particular. ,
s Miss Mayer remarked. The Jewish
abb drops in and breaches there when he
sels like it, and is not at all put out il
,e denizens continue playing their check I
RS or reading their papers while he holds
'rth; neither does the neighboring Con- ,
regational minister when he visits the ,
lace now and then; neither, in fact. does
lie strike leader, nor the capitalist cloth
lg manufacturer, for it is really Liberty Q