The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-04-13
COLUMBIA BOOZE DIRECTORY.
DRINKS ARE FREQUENT But NO
"OPEN GAMES"
Rattle OF Poker Chips and Whir, or
Roulette Wheel Said 20 be Tn
known--Plnccs Por'y Equipped.
The State. April 10.

ihe state, April 10.
Nobody hears the rattle of poker
chips on Main street and there are
very few who can say that 1T Is easy
TO get drink IN Columbia" 1t is
easy to get a drink in Columbia II
one knows the ropes" but a stranger
la the square meal town" would not
Ind the ciinking glasses. the resiau-
rants with their screen doors in the
rear. and signs blazoned on the white
way as guide TO the thirsty.
Visitors TO the city are perfectly
safe and will not he insulted by the
o9er OF alcoholic stimulants should
they so to any restaurant on Main
street In Columbia. Investigations
have shown that at no restaurant on
the principal thoroughfare can whis-
key be obtained and there Is a stand
ing order that drinking is not allow
ed either at a table or In the kitchen.
Walters In some OF these restaurants
know where to get the 'stimulants." I"
but permission must be obtained to
drink anything brought In and per-
mission Is refused II a woman is
present.
On the block between Lady and
Washington streets on Main street
,here are four Railways kept open
until midnight. and sometimes until
o'clock. On the second floor
stranger. IL properlv directed. would
face q pine counter bar and the man
behind said pine counter would serve
said stranger with drink Of so-called
whiskey OF bottle Of beer. The beer
is taken from an ice box. the whiskey
is taken from shelf and the water.
served free with the whiskey. Is taken
from a cooler. In some OF these
places there are lemons. cigarettes and
towels. On the block there Is not
pool table and no racing charts. al
though II II stated by those who have
kept up with the ponies" in the City
W the Sea. Il Is possible to place bets
by telephone '~~raph or by word
Of mouth at Il opposite the
Skyscraper whef me newspapers
and some soft drii.Ss are sold.
There Is very little doing on AS
sembly street. IL open games are con-
sidered signs Of prosperity. During
the gathering of the horsemen almost
anybody (anybody means those who
do not wear blue coats or the signs
OF authority could stroll up stairs
over livery stable not far from Lady
street and place their bets IL strollers
understood the game. Now. however.
the place Is dark and those who wish
10 hack high or low card or care to
play the festive wheel are In Char
lesion or elsewhere where the sport
OF kings" Is a feature.
Probably the best equipped club. or
place where drinks can be obtained, In
the city. Is on Washington street. not
far from the Carolina National bank.
This club is comfortably fitted, mis-
sion furniture being the design, and
there is little difficulty In getting not
only whiskey or beer, but mixed
drinks with cherries on the side. 1t
has been raided several times when
the clubs on Main street were taken
In. bu. seems to be q paying proposi-.
tion. No games are conducted there,
and the place Ia chartered.
On upper Main street. not far from
the postoffice. there is another club.
well furnished ana equipped. supply
ing the refreshments other than
straight whiskey or cold beer.
With the exception Of four places
on Main street. between Lady and
Washington streets. a place on Wash
inston street. not far from Main. a
place on Main street. not far from the
postoffice. nothing was found that
might be called offensive. These places
are on the second floor OF the build
inss occupied: no gambling was seen.
and the equipment seemed to be
crude. ara In the language Of pro-
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