The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-10-20

like the man, and agree with him on
the necessity of curbing the drink evil.
But like so many other well-meaning
persons, he exhibits a tendency to go
to extremes. Every fairminded man
will admit that 1t is sinful to indulge |
in drinking, and eating, for that mat
ter, to degree that transcends tenn
perateness; every rightly constituted
person will strive to prohibit, or at
least to restrict, the sale of wine, liq-
uors or beer because the use of such
beverages is not only dangerous, but
even deleterious to the imbiber; but
when man includes hard cider in the
list of prescribed beverages [ set him
down as an ignoramus and fanatic.
and he halls from the lake region.
invited him to spend the night under
my roof, and he accepted my hospitali-
ty. AS near as I can remember our
talk on the liquor question ran, in part,
somewhat after this manner:
"Mr. Waterman, even if your ticket
were successful, fail to see how you
can enforce prohibitory act against
the sale of intoxicants."
ave cross no bridges until we come
to them, MIR. Slowgo."
"Very true; but metaphorically
speaking, most of the people hail from
Missouri; you'll have to show them"
"Of course; but when we have the
power to make the laws we shall find
means to enforce them"
swell, Mr.. Waterman, you may. But
why do you wish to put cider under
the ban?"
because cider is intoxicating, and
therefore harmful"
"Well, have drank cider all my life,
and yet have never been intoxicated.
But, Mr.. Waterman, don't you drink
anything but water?'
ooh, yes, 1 drink tea with my meals.
"What? Do you mean to tell me
a man of your intelligence can be
guilty of drinking that abominable
stuff, tea that is fit only to irrigate the
interior of Chinaman, that contains
the Lord only knows how many poi
sons, that will coTrode stomach coat
ed with boiler iron?"
cit has never corroded my stomach
Mr.. Slewgo." This rather warmly
swell, perhaps not. But when
drink tea am sure to suffer from dys
, pepsia."
"Perhaps your stomach is differen
from mine."
eyes; and perhaps that is the reason
why hard cider is good for my stom
, ach."
"Oh, pshaw! You are trying to ex
cuse your fault"
"No, I assure you. lido not conside
, it fault to drink cider any more thai
;, you consider it fault to drink tea
But tell me Mr.. Waterman, did yo1
taste cider ?"
II have never tasted intoxicants o
o any kind"
"Well, you have missed much. LIE
me pour glass of cider. 1t is the bes
cider made in York state. The Stat
Fair Association has awarded to m
! the first prize for homemade eide
seventeen times. [ merely ask you t
. taste it in order to disarm your prejr
4 dice.''
Mr.. Waterman drank the cider an
. smacked his lips.
"That's the best cider I've ever tas
= ed, Mr.. Slowgo."
. Ismiled quiet smile, but said notl
n ing.
:, "Now, Mr.. Slowgo, supposing 20
% take cup of tea to please me?"
"a "No, no, Mr.. Waterman. You an
.r Mrs. Brown can drink tea to yol
it hearts content. Tea is poison to m
il And what's more, know enough n
IT to mix my drinks"
ic Well, Hiram, ve parted good friend
t. tho we didn't quite agree on the drir
a. question. If Civ n another chance,
q. believe can persuade him to lift Il
IS. ban from hard cider.
III Hoping you are we'll, am your 10
to ing father,
III H. SLoWao, SR.