The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-12-14
NOT ENOUGH MADE TO MAKE !
WORTH WHILE.

big government has scared at more
and with less cause than the men
who make a little moonshine whisky.
The manufacture of the stuff Is con
fined to the extreme back country
where population is extremely sparce
and the amount Of liquor thus made
is so ridiculously small that 1t would
be more of joke than a serious
proposition if the government did
not look on the thing with such a
solemn visage.
From the nature of the situation
moonshine still must be small affair
Anything big enough to be seen Is
big enough to get the owner into
trouble. It must be secluded, or it
will be found. That being the case
II must be built of material that can
be taken far into the mountains OF
forest and hidden away. | have
never seen an illicit still in opera
ton, and | have chased over the
moonshine country right much, as
my friend from Quewhiftle township
says. | have seen the little stills
after the revenue agent has found
and broken them, and they are as q
rule insignificant toys that would
not be tolerated very long by the
thirsty outlets of any popuIouS com
munity that is free to buy Monon
gahela whiskey from bar or rock
and rye from the village drug store.
One day, when the Yankee popu
laton of the North Carolina Sand
Hills was small, a native picked VI
one of the newcomers on the road
which has since become street
He called the Yankee to the schooner
wagon to look at some poultry thai
sold for ten cents a head, and some
eggs that were eight cents a dozen
In those days present prices did MOI
prevail. That was before the rapit
increase of North Carolina popula
ton and North Carolina industries
had made North Carolina produce
high in price.
The Yankee bought a few chick
ems. wild turkey for a dollar, ant
would be glad TO buy bird like Il
for three dollars this year, and stood
gossiping over the trifing local at
fairs of the community when the
native crooked his finger and beck
oned the tenderfoot around to the
side of the wagon. Raising the side
of the canvas cover, he said:
"I reckon you all knows what tc
do with that"
He produced fiat bottle with
corn cob stopper, and handed 1t tt
the Yankee who looked at it, ant
saw something that looked like ker
osene oil in the days when the re
hneries had first commenced to pu
the soggy Lima crude in the market
The Yankee shook his head
What is that?" he asked, sus
BIciously.
taste it." urged the native.
The Yankee shifted the bottle. 4
had a queer odOr of whiskey and o.
boiled corn. Apparently 1t was
liquor of some sort. He has been
many queer things since he left
Mercer county, and he was embol
dened to try this. He put the bot
tie to his lips. 1t was whiskey sure
enough, white as water. except fol-
faint yellowish ting that sug
gested age. 1t was thick and mel
low. To this man whisky meant d
reddish liquor. But this white stuff
had all the symptoms, and few Of
the objections.
What is it," he asked.
That's corn whisky, brother
you the best you ever sen. Can
you use little of it,"
Now, the Yankee thought he could
and meant to say so, but being u
Yankee, he first asked the price. The
kind Of whisky he was raised on sold
for about a dollar a quart.
II reckon l can let you have some
for about a dollar quarter" said the
native.
Isn't that little high?" protested
the Yankee.
May be a little mite, but II you
take two gallons l reckon could let
you have two for two and half"
1.-TWO and a half for two gallons!"
It was the Yankees turn to be sur.
prised.
Yes, sir. That amt too much, Is
1t, for that stuff"
The Yankee was too old to be
Knocked down by bluff. He caught
on. NO" he said, probably not.
guess I'll take you at that" So the
bargain was made, and day or two
later the moonshine was brought
around. Meanwhile the Yankee had
been thinking the thing over, and he
wondered how whisky could pay
something over a dollar gallon
United States revenue tax, and sell for
dollar, and quarter. Being dis