Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-05
DOES THE LAW ALLOW
HIM TO TREAT HIS DONKEY?
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, November 26, 1915
rs a donkey a person? Lots and
u lots of persons are donkeys. but does
the rule apply the other way about?
This question constitutes the quaintest
and most perplexing of all the prob
lens that are worrying license-holders
under London's new non-treating order.
1t is no unimportant one, either, affect
ing. as it does. not only many costers
and many donkeys, but also drivers of
horses.
Many a coster's moke. it seems,
relishes beer. Can the said owner pro-
vide his steed with a glass? The new
order reads: mo person shall either
by himself or by any servant or agent
sell or supply any intoxicating liquor
to any person unless the same is order
ed and paid for by the person SO sup
Piled" Is donkey person within the
meaning of the act. and, if not, why
should not it's master buy it drink?
At a hosiery on the famous old Kent
road, this week. an aged coster pulled
up with his donkey and cart. He has
stopped there for many years and has
always called for half pint of ale
for himself and half a pint for his
donkey. But this time he had great
misgiv!ngs The barman looked grave
and judicial when he asked for two
drinks.
"Only the old moke-she can't pay
for 'erself."
The barman shook his head.
"'Fraid it can't be done now-no
treating allowed-unless you have a
hIf
a mea-tripe and onions or steak and
chips
But the old moke as 'ad 'er meal.
it's comm, it's bit ard when you
can't even give drink to a dumb
animal that can't pay for 'erself. We've
bin 'avin' this drink together for years.
the old moke and I. She won't even
pass this pub until she's 'ad 'er 'alf
pint"
The barman consulted the manage
ment. but the management could not
express an opinion.
The old coster has not been there
donkey have become "teetotlars.'' But
once a donkey has tasted beer, it is
surprising what liking it gets for it.
an authority in the old Kent road
pointed out.
IF they're goin' ter rob the donkey
ov is beer it'll mean secret drinkin'
in the stable. l shall ev ter take the
beer 'ome. But it's goin' ter be an
ard job tearin' the mokes away from
the pubs. There are 'undreds of 'em
in the East End wot stop every day for
'alf a pint and won't leave until
they've 'ad it. I can't understand why
they're dahn on the poor old mokes.
They've never given any trouble on
licensed premises. and I've never seen
one any the worse for drop too much
not that yer could make a moke
drunk If yer tried.
There are mokes and mokes-mokes
that like lemonade and mokes that like
cold tea. But the best moke is the
moke that likes old beer. He shifts
old beer and old beer makes i'm shift.
Els never tired after running abart all
day. and e never grumbles If he gets
lis meals bit irregular.
I once had moke called Junius for
eighteen years. and e never had days
illness. He 'ad a pint of ale every dye |
of his life. and it kept i'm in the pink. |
1t was worth the tuppence a dye-any
man will tell yer that donkey's beer |
money is good investment. that it is"
Most publicans. as saloonkeepers are |
called over here. are not disposed to |
take any risks over the moot point a. |
to the donkey's personality