The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
Rr IAMEs LAcosTE RoDIER.


When we have prohibition IN the Dis
trict." said the lawyer. as ne stirred his
country toddy between sips. we VIII
have no 'cozy corners whereat 10 as
sem0le. but VIII the gregaFious tendency
OF man find some substitute for the COM
mon denominator OF sOciabiHty?''
III by the common denOminator OF
sociability, you mean the cup that cheers
and sometimes unduly exhilarates." said
the Kentuckian. as he knocked the ashes
out OF his pipe. and laid il on the table,
st. Ike the poor. you viii always have
with you. The only difference Is that.
when driven TO cover. the aforesaid cup
OF common denominator becomes de-
based. and instead Of stimulating al
ways and sometimes exhilarating. II has
deadening tendency.
Il DO not care 20. deal Eis5sf the ali
straction that the abuse q lquor Is
sufficiently common 10 cause 4 II be out
lswed. do know something OF the con
crete proposition that prohibition does
not materiallp-lessen the abuse OF liquor
while possibly curta:llng its use. As you
know. / was in Portland. Ne, a Few
months ago. and / had no sooner regis
tered as from Kentucky. than an olea-
genious Individual challenged me 10 a
discussion on prohibition, and when had
curtly avowed my hostility 70 prohibition.
he fairly beamed as he told me with ef-
fusive conhdence-me. in whom he had no
reason In the world 20 confde-that he
could put me in a position 10 assuage
any possible thirst I might accumulate
while tarrying in that hypOcritical Jeru-
salem.
Had he been other than what he pat
entity appeared, I should have informed
him that I was in a position to be pro
foundly Indifferent 10 any prOhibitOry
law. 80 far as / was Individually con-
cerned. for I had prepared myself with
proper refreshment. in case I felt the
need thereof. but I wanted 10 observe
certain things. so I affected satisfaction
at having fallen into hospitable hands
IN that region OF drought Therefore,
upon his invitation. I went with him
when night had fallen. He took me into
half a dozen blind pigs. as they call
them IN that bleak region, and ] sam
pied just that many decoctions Of law
less parentage. and the memory Of the
vileness Of each fingers with me stiu.
And the pity or it was that each place
was thronged with boys and young men.
who were drinking with gusto liquors
that would not be tolerated IN scent
barrel house on the levees Of Louis
vile or Memphis"
But it VIII be a great thing for the
medical fedgllnSs," said the physician,
when Congress tries this experiment
upon the helpless District. for the dis
reputable drug store Will vie with the
blind pig for patronage, and pTescrip-
tiOns Of a certain sort viii be easily
obtainable."
In this connection. said the Dreamer.
I win relate an incident in which !
| figured. was in the hills Of Pennsyl-
vania pointing the way 10 economic sal
walton. when I received a dispatch from
/ headquarters TO repair to Philadelphia
/ for a certain assignment. When I ar
rived In the City OF Brotherly Love /
was handed a letter from big. blUff. and
| black-moustached Frank B, who was
I then IN New Jersey on an errand OF
mercy. 1t contained the details OF my
/ assignment, and set forth that I was
| to address the faithful Of-well. call il
/ Grassland. that is near enOugh-On a GER
/ tain Saturday night For a pOstscrip;
! 70 Lle lclLtr vas a ilIe WHICH stated. as
an offhand statement of fact. that Grass
/ land was a prohibition town. wherein
( the creature comfort was at distinct
! discount.
When I read that postscript. It ap-
pesled 20 me as a Macedonian cry, and.
however others may assay me, hold
that I am distinct. matter-of-fact some
body. albeit I Go indulge IN dreams on
occasions. So in packing my grip prep
aratory 10 departure, I included q pint
OF prevention. and upon reflection gave
Il a companion pint, reckoning would
temporarily sssuage the thirst Of that
aggregation OF economic evangelists a,
Grassland.
! Arriving az Grassland az about the
hour for the meeting. I was met at the
depot, conducted TO a most preteatious ho-
tel, where I tidied myself, and went 10
the place of meeting, jealousy guarding
my secret, intending TO unfold it to the
great pleasure OF the thirsty souls when
We had returned to the hotel
We'll. all things come 10 an end. even
gales Of wind. and al the conclusion OF
the meeting 1 was escorted back 10 the
hotel BY half a dozen local leaders and
Peripatetic spellOinders. and when 1 had
carefully shut the door behind the bell
boy, who had brought the pitcher of ice
water I had called for at the desk as we
went IL, disclosed the secret The dis
closure appeared to be welcomed after a