Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-07
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.


II was a low down dive in the heart
OF the city. The kitchen windows
looked out upon a dark alley and be-
yord ran one of the mill canals whose
dark waters had brought relief 10 many
disheartened mortals out of work and
ill. The kitchen was the work room
Of the mother Of ten children during
the day At nigh, she and her daugh-
ter sold beer. she was a widow, and
the world owed her a living
She had not the power of mind to
figure out her debt to the world. a
we'll meaning husband had worked
hard in cotton mill TO support her in
the old days, and she had been honest
and happy.
When he was caught in cotton
picker and torn TO pieces she began to
collect the money the world owed her
by selling beer in her kitchen.
She was pouring it now from a tin
sprinkler The little party Of men and
boys sat around the stove and
smoked strong ''two-fer cigars ana
drank her beer at five cents mug.
And poor beer at that, Only they did
not know it, The younger boys knew
they didn't like it. They drank 1t FOR
the "cussed feeling" ii gave 10 be
breaking a law. They drank 1t for a
relaxation. In their homes sort OF
mystery had been thrown about beer
drinking and they wanted tc solve IL.
All the week they We're held high UP.
strung to superhclaliy eieNa'eO'
standard Of morality in their homes
They listened to their mothers and SIS
ters harpinc on the old. wornout SUD
iect of the rum sellers and smuSSlefs.
Most OF them would never have
tboupht of hunting up the beer KIT
hens if their precious mammas had
~, talked so much about them in that
mortified whisper that they use IN
Maine when they speak of hquor OF
liquor selling.
IN the front room two OF MadSe
o.Erien's smugglers were urlilhiiS
whiskey and huskily talking ABOUT 'iie
,, adventure in the mountains. lhere
,,..s a bis- load Of beer coming through
th,t night and they were to unioau IL
from, the cars and cart it over the dark
Ids to Bucktield where another gang
u.os to distribute it to the small VIZ
Lagos beyond. 1HCiuuiiS
Franklin county towns.
.orell you what" said one Oh inn
., think something orter happen u
maj Young cuss. Pierre Croteau' -
IN know what the Captain saiu ia''
,;r,e we saw her. She don VAIN.
-. M orders but she would De hdppy
e ha was lust put ter sleep. l guess
.r. ro,,ld make a big fuss, Saiu an
| other.
.vot if he .mysteriously disappeared
- ,a,, off his horse an was kilt.
.,s sorter draw her out Httie
-, time we see her. She may De up
With this load tOnight.
| ,rpav we're interrupted by someone
| a;,ed,y reading from local Pape,
account of how the city marsha
"a raided a saloon in the town. lne
| Id" cot no,r the stove in the XII
All hands listened with frequeh'
c"e There was a rap at the XII
T,an door and the policeman on 'ht
heat came in for ms peer ne
tho finishing of the story. -,
"Well. likes my beer put l INN. y
.,,;s continual talk of rum seizures :.
,.',..;ne the town and the state n'
na;d nu .Td be willin' ter get on Win
! .t sa NV stuff to see it totally prohioi'
Gu ..rotally prohibited exclaimed a orr M
ar,,mmer from Boston. who nae
soo" s;uonned in for his drink. You can
a~pi u,on Il 1t isn't too much rum that an
Maine. ;s M, NOR
morality. There is SO ilucn ~ ~
,u awnng the better class Of people tina
am are all as stiff and uncomfort
..S,o s az broomsticks. What the stat
ad. - is news blood and new people .
'nt the bottom. It doesn't need hes
saonie at the top. Those at the top ar
rmall account. They just run tn,ns mn =
sma smd clip coupons and drink tea The: T. e:
t,st guide the machine ana ria.
Wnat yv is wanted is a new class at .n =,
no.som m on the farm and in the mil mil
oud the shops If Maine had seve
a,,ndred anu thousand more people on tn
sarnos in the clsprings ana WORKING
iar s.rsets and \mills things woul
hum. s"g ne farmiry class sno"s 70