The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
KkEp SOBER WHILE YOU'RE
FIGHTING FIRE"
Eph Small Reports on the Temper
aHce Movement.

To THE EDITOR or TIVE SUN-Str: One
day last week ] ran across Eph Suia1l
as he stood critically examining n dis
play of red neckties in a haberdasher's
shop. II Was the first time ! had seer
him since his return from the Panama
exposition
WELL" I inquired after we had ex-
changed greetings. what did you think
of IT,
II want surprised nome" he an.
swcrcd "Johnson's n loetle mite old,
but yet yc got DO hand 1t to willard
Jest the same he's the class all right
II wasn't referring to the hight" !
said. what I'd like to know. Eph. Is
something about your trip. What cs-
pecially interested you"'
Eph seemed to pay no attention to
the question. lie was again absorbed
In studying the neckties In the window.
But after u omc he turned away
and gazed abscntly across the street.
"What specially interested me-" he
dra wlcd. was what seems to be the
general sentiment In the West m the
liquor question. They amt quite as
lib raj AZ they used to be-"
II should say not" I fastened to OBJ
serve there seems to he almost a
worldwide movement to abolish strong
drink for the good OF humanity. Even
those highest in authority have come
to perceive the danger and are using
thcir powerful influence to eradicate
the evil"
Eph looked at me auiszically u Of
the corner OF his eye. "Mcanin' Jest
what he aucried slowly.
Meaning continued. Just what
I say. For years and years vodka. ~
highly Intoxicating liquor. has been
the national drink OF Russia now the
Car has absolutely prohibited II in
the interests OF his subjects. Take Eng
land, one of the most liberal countries
in the world. and YOU will find that
King George is doing his best to sup
press the traffic In strong drink and 10
set an admirable example by refusing
to have II served at his own table"
E.ph sliced a small triangle OF cut
plug and chewed II refcctively.
"Sech regard fer others II noble he
said after a moments silence. "spe.
cially in kings. II reminds me of some
thin ! seen up in the ~Ad'rondacks three
years ago.
"A Teller UP thar named Herrick ran
a gen'ral store. groceries. dry goods an
hardware. with a leetlo red eye on the
side for them as cared 10 buy II. the
town bein' no license. lie also owned
a purity good farm three or four mile
beyond the settlement. an when the
forest fires got to goin' like blszcs. as
they did that mme an got down
within half n mile or So Of Herrick's
fences-vall. the man was plump scairt
out of his wits. lie hired three Of the
fellers to go up aud help him. but tho
fust night they all got drunk on a
couple o. pints they took along with EN-,
and want no more use han a prize
poodle In 4 dog show.
"Herrick an the Teller that run the
farm fought the tire all night alone. an
the old man VAS all in long about !
O'clock in the mornin' an jest about
wild.
THE fcllcrs began to sober w about
that time an IIerrick called en- TO.
rcther and pleaded with 'cm with tears
in his Ewes. Boys he seq. listen to
This amt no time TO git all lit
up. We don't rclize the Hanger I'm in
or ye wouldn't act like cussed fools. 7
amt askin' much of yc. don't care
how drunk !e git when we're hoine at
tendin' TO Yer W. families. but for
Gawd's sake keep sober while yc're
fightin' this fire."
Eph paused and nodded his head.
Yes. sir said he. "ye never saw n
fcller that was more consolidate an
thoughtful OF others than ole man Her
rick. And" he added. regard fer
others is noble. specially in kings"
ALBANr, May 10. SIMON CREEL.