The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-11
STATE GOES ON
A BIG SPREE
Much Drunkenness Marks End
Of Prohibition In Vermont.
THE STRENGTH OF WHISKY
Farmers Think the l'qu,rSO Weak When Il
Goes Not Elite Catering RiEs"
end lear Cmelst;.

and the officers have taken every pre-
caution 10 prevent outbreaks. but the
courts have been overrun with drunk"
cases, the ja.ls are full and in some IN
stances II has been necessary 10 swe6r IN
special policemen 10 keep order.
Experiences OF other states bear out
the friends OF local option In the argu-
ment that matters will soon adjust them
selves and that there will be less intem-
perance and blackmall then heretofore.
Two reasons are assigned for the eN-
tent OF intoxicatlon. one Is the insid-
ious cocktail. with which Vermont has
heretofore had little to do. and the other
is tho fact that the strength OF the whls-
key sod over the bars has been misjui-
ged.
For half a century Vermonters have
been drinking whiskey adulterated with
crude alcohol and spiced with red pep
per. They have also used alcohol and
water. known az "Old King" for a bev-
erage. Both these Kicked and bit
goins down thirsty throats. and the more
they "kicked" the better the brand was
supposed, to he. While the stuff noS
sold Is not above par. II is smooth in COM
parison with the old brands. and the far
mers have taken too much with the Idea
that II was watered.
NEARLY ALL WENT TOO FAR.
When the hars began to open noun
taneers and farmers poured into the city
10 see how IL really seemed 10 take a
nip openly and unmoested. and the re-
suit was that they all went too far Many
OF the countrymen had never seen a real
bar In operation. and their only idea
OF A saloon was n back room with a look
out stationed at the door or n hole under
the sidewalk into which they could sneak
after being properly introduced.
Rutland and other large towns have
boasted real bars. but they always ran
under cover and only when the enforce
ment OF the law was lax. As Il was nee
essary to he we'll known TO get into one
of these places. the farmer who came 20
town but two or three times year pat.
ronizcd Kitchen bars" "whiskey bibles"
or went home dry. The spendor OF thA
new saloons. with their white iacketed
bartenders, cut glass mirrors and cleo
trio lights created great admiration and
from morning until night the saloons
have been surrounded and filled with
an admiring crowd.
The great complaint seems 10 he that
the whlskey don't seem { hev no kick
{ tt The Vermonter wants his moneys
worth, and as he has been in th- habit
% getting liberal bite" for his 40 ccGls,
he thinks h. Is being cheated
Up to this week the Manhattan auG
Martini cocktails have been practically
untnown, and when some one introduced
the amber-cclored fluids there was a mad
rush. Many thought the beverages as
harmless as beer hence their down
fail.
OLD FAVoRITES IN DEMAND
Outside OF whiskey. the most popular
drinks are those that have not seen
the light of dag since tho early sos.
One bartender who came here from New
York to teach the natives what 10 drink.
has resigned his job in consequence OF
these ld-time favorites and gone back
to New York. He said he supposed he
knew every drink mixed from Maine to
California. but he found that he didn't.
Before noon on the opening day he
was stumped seventeen times ard
finally sent for farmer friend OF the
proprietor to help him keep trade. He
got along all right with n "shoe horn
and "Nayfower ringlet" with an "Old
Glory chaser but fell when a party Of
five mountalneers ordered a rye boot
leg. 'souse and two 'whiskey pickle.
brandy fun and beer omelet" Such
things as farmers fancics." "hattering
rams chilled noateIs' and "tastlc and
tufts" wore. he said. not uncommon. and
he gave up his job n disgust.
4 mountaineer who lives so far back
in the hills that he doesn't keep up with
the news was greatly surprised when he
came to town and found the saloons run
ming wide open
"Ye don't mean { tell me thet We kin
go right In L one Z them places and cit
glass T pisen an not git tn sheriff
erter ye?" he inquired Of n policeman
on the corner.
When told that he could. he stood In
Geep meditation for n moment and then
said
WAL. reckon thet tn ole state $
ft.f IA. y,.I 10 gf,, k..s
seems Z be n turrihe mess Z folks a
tTavclin' yere Uncle Mose'll iine tn
procession. Jest sos not & sit left.
lie fined" and later slept IN the lock-
up.
40 SIDE DOORS so FAR.
The Vermont saloon has not yet reached
the family entrance stage. ahd the good
deacon. who preached temperance and
drank for his stomach's sake. undcr tho
old law g. having hard shedding. The
very oacnness with which lquor iS sold
bars him from gettirE q dtink. IA h. has
g. buy hlg iiqud ~ tho fottlc and imotbo
" crt m thee barn u was this clafs 90
secret drinkers that made tho prohibition
la@ a dismal failure There werc scores
OF places m all towns of ans size where
perf01 coull sneak into q reputable
business block. rap on blind door. get q
drink and then 81 Co Thursday evening
PRAYER meeting. Now faiN1N bNNfF N ISL
he unoHs;ructcd and back rooms arc not
allowed
So much curiosity has been cVclted by
The new order of things that biz crowds
hang around "a front ~ the saloons,
watch the patrons drink and make exciu-
aivencfs impossible. ~ a man taxes
drink now the chances are that al, hin
friends will know about q before sun
down
There were small riots iu several towns
when tho saloon Opeur1 Midllebury look
ed as though cyclone hai struck 10 in
the cold gras dawn uf the morning Of
ter" and tho residents called an indigua-
tion meeting and appointed n spccai pr-
Zee force There var trouble he-r. too.
hut n T. believed ri,at th.nCF VI. soo1 b.
regulated. ard the Law viii prove SIC
osss here as elscghere.