The evening times., 1900-01-15
4 Connecticut Suggestion.

Originality is not yet a defunct trait in
Connecticut the domain made famous by
the invention of the wooden nutmeg. which
Ingenious substitute for the genuine condi-
ment must have been the precursor of the
gold brick and. perhaps laid the foundation
of many an ample New England fortune
Connecticut which is alleged to have had
a hand ia producing the ancient blue laws,
now fortunately repealed, has again step
ped 10 the front and furnished for the con-
temptation OF unreformed mankind a FEM
mime phianthropist who has thought out
= scheme that is simply unique.
She. like many other good people is de-
cidedly opposed 10 the establishments
where spirituous beverages are supplied
for immediate consumption. Realizing that
all of the devices thus far employed to
proved ineffective, because Of numerous,
if not obvious. reasons. this ingenious Con-
necticut woman has brought forward a sug-
gestion which is as novel as il is startling.
She believes thai saloons can be restrained
and drunkenness lessened in the village
where she abides if the abiding citi-
zens of the place can be prevailed upon 70
frequent the resorts in question.
Her theory is best explained in her own
words. 1t is not necessary that they
should drink because they frequent such
places. but their presence Will act as a re-
straint on the lawless element. | think
that if our best citizens would adopt some
\ l.. 4
bauchery and disorder and compel the
saloonkeepers to observe the law to the let
ter. This plan came to me while | was
meditating in my quiet farmhouse home.
Drinking is only wrong when carried to
excess. saloons have become a fixed feat
ure of our social life. Would il not be bet
ter. therefore, that they be made as re-
spectacle as possible by the presence of the
best citizens who are strong enough TO re-
sist the temptation to drink TO excess aud
will help others TO resist?''
This scheme is distinctly feminine.
While there is no occasion TO doubt the
sincerity or the sanity of its originator,
there are q few reasons, or dozens of them,
why il is as impracticable as it is unique
The best citizens could probably supply
few of them and the wives OF the best citi-
zens a few more. In fact. the author of
this proposed new reform, since the sug
gestion was made several days ago is prob
ably already in receipt of enough infor-
nation from various interested quarters
and individuals to make her sorry that
she meditated in this certain vein at her
quiet farmhouse home.
While the places which this Connecticut
reformer seeks TO make better in char
acter are, like grocery or butcher shop,
open to all who may care to enter, the
proprietors thereof doubtless consider that
overridden by the operation of the plan
suggested. They might offer physical OBJ
lection to the presence of the best citizens
who had come with the avowed effort
of diminishing trade. and the law might
uphold them in their exercise of the privi-
lege of election. If this course were pur-
sued. the very purpose Of the scheme would
be destroyed at the outset. The device
very much resembles an effort on the part
Of two or three men who do not approve
of pugilism to interpose their influence by
entering the priZering at the conclusion of
an exciting round and essaying to convert
the principals and spectators to their way
of thinking While their heroism might
compel admiration, the result would not be
difficult to forecast
This Connecticut plan OF reform has the
failings of its many predecessors. 1t neg
lects to take into consideration the fact
that the object OF the reform does what
it is claimed he ought not to do through
his own inclination. Unless that inclina-
tion can be removed and desire to pur-
sue an opposite course substituted for 1t,