The independent., 1907-01-24


Once there was Traveller who hap
pened into a small town just about the
time that Gentleman who had grown
too strong to work was opening place
for the sale of Wines, Liquors and
Cigars. AIR
Nobody ever saw the Wines. but he
had a very fine stock of old Sour Mash
made !. of Wood Alcohol, Prune
Juice and Cayenne Pepper.
We are told in the popular Standard
Work by T. S. Arthur that the Trav-
eler came back to the town about
year after and then a year after that
and SO on until he had kept tab on the
Thirst Parlor for about ten years. He
saw good many of the Best People in
the village go to the bad one after an
other as the Rum Fiend managed to
get a side hold on him.
Perhaps you have seen the Drama,
which has been done in every Town
Hall in North America. You will re-
member how Simon Slade, who was
handsome leading man in the first act,
with his hair neatly combed and tall
or-made Suit, kept going against the
Pink Stuff until in the last act he had
an awful case of the Willies and was
throwing Furniture at the Soubrette.
This bo K gives the liquor traffic
hard Panning. 1t points out the fact
that any one who dallies with the
Essence for any length of time will end
up with a Sheriff's Sale or the d. It's.
This same Traveller who tells about
the old time Groggery and the former
generation of Lushes, who drank Med
ford Rum instead Mamie Taylors,
happened into another Town only a
few years ago.
1t was thriving little Suburb, not
far removed from a great City. The
Peaceful Residents would squat in
front Of the Hardware Store for hours
at time, laying out work for the Ad-
ministration at Washington A Grab
Social was the limit of Revelry, al
though there was some excitement
whenever a Medicine Show came along
Into this drowsy little Hamlet came
Barkeep with a Black Mustache. He
had convinced the Authorities that he
possessed good Moral Character and
so he was given License to sell, bar
ter and give away anything that could
be kept in Bottle without burning
holes in the Glass.
He rented Corner from one of the
Pillars of the Church who needed the
Money and fitted up a Swell Joint. The
Furnishings included an Ice Box with
silver handles and picture Of John L.
wearing his Diamond Belt.
The Traveller was mighty sorry to see
this Pitfall planted right in the heart
of Community where so many promi-
nent Business Men could find time to
go in and shake the Box and feed
nickels into the Slot Machine. He knew
that in few years all Of them would
be confirmed Drunkards of the kind
seen in the Tableaux at the School En-
tertainments
But what do you think? When the
Traveller happened through the Town
year OF so later the Saloon had disap-
peared from the corner and in it's place
was a very attractive road house. The
reason he knew it was Road House
was that it said SO over the door, and
off at one side was a hitch rack where
people could leave their Rigs while
they were inside getting Stewed.
"Why did you close up your saloon
and open a road house in the same
Building?" asked the Traveller of the
former Agent of Ruin
Because a great many people who
are too nice to go into Saloon will
stop at a road house and load up on
Peaches for hours at time" was the
reply. 1.-The great purpose of the pres
ent fastidious Generation is not to cut
it out, but to do it i'm such respect
able manner that one can get fine
large Package without being ashamed
of it."
Another year passed and when the
Traveller returned to tie Village he dis
covered that the Road House had be-
come Gentlemens Riding and Driv-
ing Club. The BarlSeep was no longer
a Barkeep. but was now the Steward.
and on the wall were pictures OF
Horses.
What Is the difference between
Road House and a club" asked the
Traveller of the Steward
"oh. all the difference In the world"
replied the Official. AT "a Road House
you get loaded In Road House. while
1T Club you get loaded AZ q club.
You feel about the same at the cold
gray Dawn OF the morning after. but
the Family In rather proud to know
that Father was Mt the Club the night
byfoFe pshprelg A would feel dlSgraped