The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1916-12-15

REM|N|S-
CENCES
tBN ". n. HARRIS. JR.


AZ boy ] Was not very easily scared
bnt one Sunday morning about o'clccl
] had Al experience that ~as we'll cacu-
lated To tst my courage. My uncle con
Quoted q barber shop on seventeenth II
IN Richmond, vs.. near the old market
! Was about IL years old st the time an.
WAS just heginning to learn the trade
THIS IL the oldest section of the city anc
Is very denseiy populated. Here il fcur.'
the cei t.r OF the doxntown business ssc
tion-~holesale and retail stores, fi-l
markets grog shops, pawn-stores and al
those numerous establishments winch
To supply the wants of teeming and
populous city.
The manufacturing plants and bushes.
housss paid their employs weekly, snd
on a Saturday night. this part Of the cit,
was jsmmed for squares with peopl
shopping and purchasing provisions fol
sunday. As Commodities OF all kind,
could he purchased cheaper here than in
other parts of the city. not only did tn.
people OF this immediate vicinity hocl
here on Saturday nights. but attracted
by the many useful and splendid bar
z aims to be had, people from all parts o.
{ ne citv journeyed hither TO do their shop
ping.
Notwithstanding that the First Polio.
Headquarters is located mp stairs over
the market, this part Of the city ls tn,
cente. Of the Red-light district. who's.
h abitues ply their nefarious trade in a.
,Den and shameless manner The tongh
est characters 10 he found anywhere in
tested this section. Pick pockets, cracks
men, confidence men, jaiibirds and Other
elements who constitute the very fiotsau
and jetsam Of humanity
Richmond enjoyed a large river trads
IN those days, and in its numerous dock,
might be seen ships from alt parts of th,
country. Sailors in their picture-au,
'stumes and with that peculiar eaii
which u characteristic Of those who fol-
low the seas, added 70 the variety Of tn.
navy specimens of humanity who fire.
qu~nted this part Of the city. and ,hese.
when drunk. A. they usually were. form
ID a very ugly element for the police 4
"a IDLE. There was usually grog-shop
IN each corner and several IN each square
Ih-se did thriving business and wer.
pstronized by both men and women
Women drank openly at tie lar with
he men, and 70 was nothing unn-sl 1
see women - drunk they could not walk
These erog-shops dispensed the cheapest
and worst kind Of liqnor. IL wa said
that most Of this stuff had never sem =
distillery and that the knowing one.
could take a lev simple drugs and max
q whole barrel Of IL.
This -tuf didn't simply make you
drunk; but IL made you crazy. and when
you got tanked up on IL you felt o. Il
you could whip yOor weight fn Wild cat.
An Irishvoman, who Wa known ell over
the city a. Miss Ann" ran one Of th~-.
drink empor.urns. and her brand Of fire.
water Wa said to be the worst in the
whole city. IL wss humorou-Iy referred
% a. chained lightning and IL "a,
said that one drink Of IL would make .
j-ck-rsbbit stand on hrs hind Irg. snc
spit in the face Of buil dog" Aft~r .
hsTd day. work. eft the barber sbar
sbout J O'Clock and started home. lived
in the extreme northern section OF tn.
city abou tso miles from where I work.
ed. A. the distance Was much shorter
instead of going through the city, renl
up Seventeenth street % IT, end and tber
took q road which is now Hospital "a
Seventeenth street y narrow. crooked
and very dark street, winch ~ss dimIy
lighted by the old-fssbioDed stidcisl "a.
lamps. Thee emitted q Pickering, gel.
low light which really seems 10 make tbs
darkness more intense. The stress- yer,
entirely des>rt~d st tnst hour, and a.
trudeed home~srds l had the fe<Iine'
thss only bog Of fouysssn could Asvs,