The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-01-12
ST. LOUIS LETTER.
.DGRs Of Vice have appTO-
pirate names.
NEED NOT BE DECEIVED.
When Entering a place of doubt
ful Reputation, You do so
knowing what the final
result will be.

result will be.
"All Sorts of Jags inside" eWe are
Lower than the Lowest. ''He Who Comes
in Here Leaves All Hope Behind"
These and similar ones are signs that may
be seen on the windows of saloons on
Market Street, st. Louis. It is claimed
that on this street from the q n ion depot to
9Th, every brand of liquor known to the
traffic is sold, and judging from the ap-
pearances of the crowds which hang around
you couldn't doubt il.
One afternoon strolled along this street
for purposes of observation. All sorts and
conditions of humanity may here be seen,
from the milliouaire's son whizzing by in an
automobile to the common laboring man on
down to the last stage of a human wreck
Amidst the latter, clank, hum and whir OF
our present century of manufacturing and
commerce, you are startled on almost every
corner on Market Street by the voice OF
some half-human, blear-eyed, dissipated be-
ing who tries to excite the sympathy OF
some passerby to the extent of the price OF
another cup of poison. s'Mr. for the sake
of depraved humanity. give mes piece OF
money" 81 beg your pardon, but I am
ruined. Please give me five cents" 81
know look horrible, but want to beg you
for just nickle"
These areonly samples of what you may
hear. But there is one thing like about
these places, and perhaps you are wonder
ing what that can be. Some people ad-
vertise that they are doing a certain busi-
ness and really they are doing another.
Some men advertise that they are strictly
honest when they are strictly rogues But
some of these saloon keepers advertise their
business honestly. Just what they say they
are doing Is precisely what they are doing.
They don't want you to be deceived BY
their window signs, and that is one thing
like about it. 'sWe are Lower than the
Lowest" There is no deception in that. II
young man goes in there he can't say
afterwards that he came to his ruin by
dishonest signs. He can't say that he was
misguided into that road. The sign was
correct and if his life is wreck In con-
sequence he can't put all the blame on the
liquor dealer.
'He Who Comes in Here Leaves All
Hope Behind" think that is one of the
most appropriate signs l ever saw on a
liquor shop. You can, while you are on
the street, decide whether yon want to go
in that place or not. They tell you before
you come in so that you can get ready to
deal with them. To be prepared you must
first leave all hope behind your back. The
hope of getting honest goods, of being
treated as man, of being dealt with
honestly and honorably, of even getting
what really belongs to you-all these you
throw down on the street the moment you
cross that threshold.
All saloon keepers are not thieves and
crooks and men without sense of honor,
but there are thousands of them who
haven't got an honest sign on their win
dows, and they ought to be ma de do this SC
that the youth who startsout ON that sort oi
career could never say that he was
misguided into it,
am not a crank on this liquor question.
don't believe that Carrie Nations plan
should be legalized. / don't believe that
the evil of drink will ever be checked as
long as its sale is in the hands of individuals
As long as they sell it they will offer every
encouragement they can to increase the
sale, for they are certainly not in the busi-
ness for the pleasure there is in it. If a
state wishes to get rid of the thing it will
have to monopolize its sale and discourage
its use. Put up a sign something like
this: "This saloon is placed here by the
State for the accommodation of inebriates.
Young people are'cautioned to stay OUT
am glad that North Carolina has re-
moved from the public highways of the
State the ''stills" and the grog-shops which
once could be seen at every road crossing
where it would pay. 1 am glad they put
them in incorporated towns where they
can't retail it out to the youth who is strug-
Cling to be man and who wants to avoid
every temptation that he can. And besides
il the manufacture and sale of liquor is con-
fined to the cities, women and children al
least will have the benefit of organized
police protection.
AS for myself have no more use fol
liquor as beverage than do for red pep.
per tea as beverage, but | do know that ii
is the direct or indirect cause of many
business failures, of many destitute homes,