The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-16
LOUD WALL FROM
PARCHED THR0ATS
Clubs Like Deserts Yesterday.
New "Dicky Birds" Proving
Not Popular.
SOFT DRINKS MAY GO, TOO
Pocket Trade Grows Brisk, and
Will Be in Full Swing by
Next Week.

Next Week.
Except for those flaming concoction
thrown together by private sideboar
amateurs, there were no highballs o
other mixed and fancy drinks for TIL
thirsty folk of Richmond yesterday
Throughout Virginia, club life was no
unlike a desert. The Byrd bill, which
the Governor signed on Friday, pro
hibits the dispensing of iptoXicants IL
bona fide establishments, and without
exception the local institutions obeyet
religiously, but failed to show thai
same spirit In discussing and de-
nouncing an act which cuts into "the
liberties of the human race"
May Go After Saltwater, Too.
The more aristocratic element at the
westmoreland and the Commonwealth
was deprived of its appetizer. The sun
day habit in those clubs has not been
abused all these years, and members
thought no more of a toddy there than
they did in the sanctity of the home.
But everything is changed nowadays.
Soft drinks We're offered to strong
men, to be turned away with sigh of
disgust and a wall at the law, and
by mutual consent they started white
ribbon life under the name of "Dicky
Birds" Nobody seemed to be willing
TO drink .Dicky Bird to the future
political greatness of the Speaker of
the House.
Men who are familiar with life down
in Georgia are often prone to repeat
the story freely circulated there that
the soft drink manufacturers paid
fabulous sums to help bring about
prohibition.
In the land of the mint julep, how
ever, the substitute was a moclSer.
Moreover it is doubtful If anybody
stopped to remember that with the
amended law as to Sunday selling the
time will shortly come when tho harm
less beverages will go under the lid.
Coda water dealers expect the blow
II the police are ordered to enforce the
regulations, confectionery shops will be
required to bar tho doors, and the only
thing a thirsty person can drink will be
water. 1t may not mean civil war, but
the signs of a South American rebel
lion are in the wind.
Pocket Product Brisk.
Just as prohibition encourages tho
hip pocket trade, so did the club fea-
zens that they must prepare to cross
the desert before midnight Saturday.
1t happened, therefore. that the bottle
trade was brisk, pnts and half-pints
being in demand, with the less intoXi-
CO ting brew second by head and run
ming strong. Only the wise men looked
ahead.
The others were caught without mo-
tice. They did not know that the Byrd
bill was an emergency measure, the
superstition being that it would become
effective in ninety days, after the man
ner of all decent laws. Instead, how
ever, It was put into force when the
Governor signed it with a flourish no
body for that matter, asked about the
owner of the pen. II the instrument
which brought on the unquenchable
torture had been displayed around the
clubs 1t could have done valiant service
in framing protest-a protest that
would be so biting and fiery that old
Scathing Arrangement would have been
left at the post.
Rracer Demand Strong.
But while they swore softly and took
the situation with such grace as they
could, the club folk made merry at the
expense CT those who had TO have it.
There was a current report. once upon
n time. that the man who ticks up an
unusual amount of the stuff on Satur-
day needs little more on Sunday.
His system requires it, the Byrd bill to
the contrary notwithstanding.
Without thebracer if those who read
are to put credence in the current re-
ports aforesaid. n man is apt to go To
pieces like steam engine that needs
cold water. TO prevent an increase
in the mortality rate. the life saving
he tI. NlnsJ lptt al; .,,o
came bravely to the rescue. picked up
little lunches of the sufferers AMI
whirled them away toward sideboard
glory The victims heaved signs of de-
light, rubbed themselves and fingered.
Great Day Ror Visiting.
The very fact that the law puts
whiskey beyond the reach of mortals
With the command that they shall not
touch 1t, merely serves to make them
tation is greatest when 1t is out of
the way, but in city of homes ana
hospitality there is always an avenue
which leads to the Reckoning light
IT was because of this proverb that
induced an old-timer to remark last
night that more liquor was consumed
In Richmond yesterday than on any
previous sunday, and that, too wher
none was served in the clubs. The bib.
ulous We're in visiting mood. They
rambled from place to place. getting
nip here and another nip there, JUS
70 run rings around the law. Their,
will be no more Sunday drinking a
the clubs, hut Saturday hereafter will
be the barroom's bargain day Had
champion of the Byrd bill wandered
into one of the clubs the frost to gree
him would have been thicker thar
that which clings TO the tall glass on
OF which the fragrant mint sends fort
Its springtime blessing.
SEABOARD STANDS ALONE