The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14
For The Messenger.

I H%N SDNiA & -'A -AAS
and after supper, in Buckingham's
hotel Lafayette pool and billiard
room, until about 1890 O'Clock it kept
hot, then a fresh, delightful breeze
s~prinGing up and sweeping the long
DOL through the south windows.
tempted o Of the players to the
seats outside on the pavement, though
a few Of the Observation-Disclosures,
kept about the tables under the blazing
lights.
One party grouped themselves to-
gether, among whom was q cigar drum
mer-about 45 years old, strongly built
with a strongly marked face, shaded
by a heavy mOustache, but with rot
a trace of color. so you have a pro-
hibitiOn town. he remarked TO the
pool o proprietor, as he mOpped
the back Of his neck with his nand-
kerchief, and took off his hat 10 enjoy
the breeze, and you have a blasts
good thing haven't you?" Yes, We
have a prohibition town. replied
Buckingham, but don't blame it on
me; | didn't fix it," Well, I'm III my
same Old Iine-salling millions daily Of
a scent cigar that cannot be duplicated
anywhere else on the civilized earth
for less than the sum OF one silver
dim@-that's me. | am sorry, rather,
that it is such a cigar, for, from my
immense sales, it is plain that my
house Will shortly retire rich, and then
III b" thrown on the cold world; for
YOU couldn't expect the king of the
cigar turf, if | may so express it. 10
put up with Il Sub-pOSiSh.
"But about this prohibition" the
drummer went on, Tipping the ashes
from his cigar, cit nearly sent me off
my books once, and / wouldn't mind
telling the story if there was anything
III this everlasting town to wet a mans
dry throat after he got through"
Go ahead with YOUR story, stranger,
and if it is Il good n maybe some
thing can be found around here" said
a tall young man wearing a broad
SLOUGH hat, with his chair tilted against
the wall. As he was understood 20
know generally where some was to be
SOL oil ire lI1lStlIN lIlTIIlPN NtIe HI
ed up in hope.
We'll" said the drummer, here we
20. After | was married and made my
self y home in the Virginia town where
l was born and raised, | never thought
of keeping liquor in the house, didn't
need to. The town had six or seven
barroOms, good ones too, and l could
get my tOddy or glass of beer any hour
of the day or Il night cap after sup
per by walking q block or two. My wife
died without leaving me any children,
and | gave up most of the house TO
my brother. his wife and two children,
TeServing We rooms for myself-still
there never was any liquor about the
house, for my brother never took even
Il glass of beer.
But about two ears ago my town
went dry: and being in Richmond one
day on my way in for two or three
weeks vacation. | bethOught myself Of
this fact, and provided myself with a
gallon of four guaranteed full quart
bottles of rye whiskey, which | con-
signed to the express. And nov
want some Psychologist, or ~pysChGlO-
gist. or alieniSt, or whatever he may
be-, to explain an amazing fact. | had
4,l-o,, .L-oz ~ F,,,. Jr;pI-r ~ Djor-
H.I anL woe na. ~ ~ e1irb+ac+
ao tbi1..r r-bnn . an 40 troin
I',+ y "slaI.ioH &c +bo+ ,id'In~
bro,,rb. snniD% nIoyirr 10 d1inl,
-. anL nI+bn,,oh - 1,oe . riIa If onIv
three hours to my town. | actually sat
wondering if there was not some way
of getting into the express car. open
mo nav. hTv and c1akinm my vbiskev-
,,a, i,,.+ vented =, .e1ak, i drink
,ftor drinI,
VINO r.,cba1 boma followed
the evnrass WAGON around 10 the Office
and naid rhe CHARGES and had the
Hc,nr ,an+ rfobt mn ia the house whore
was r.,fv * soon * if was placed
in NV room WITH = hatcher 70 omen he
how .,r1 % cork sc~au- - omen q hn+r;a
when with fovarish haste mn 10
my mouth on1 drank long and deep Of
the Jaw fiery stuff without a dv0p o.
Uatar-I Who never before had III uglf
Of e,cb y THING as Irinkinr Ubiskpy or