The Penn's Grove record., 1919-07-04
Last Booze Wake
Visitors To Wilmington Return
ed Well Loaded With Wkiskey

Last Monday, June Both, was the
last day intoxicating liquors could be
purchased, because war time prohibi-
ton went into effect at midnight.
With no licensed liquor to be pur-
chased in Penns Grove some made
trips to Philadelphia and more to Will
mington to get their last quaffs at the
bar and bring home bottled fire water
for the long future drought. A few
lad their heads muddled, feet in tan
giles and most carried from one to a
dozen quarts.
There was little disorder as the
death Of John ~Barlcycorn was taken
mildly as a matter of course.
Most American citizens have re-
spect for law and have been trained
to be reconciled to that which comes,
as most believe whatever is is right.
War time prohibition was enacted
by Congress to keep the men in army
service as we'll as in war industries
physically fit with clear brains, steady
nerves and active muscles to meet
every emergency made by the enemy.
The average mar in the service I'M
der sanitary and temperance living
has gained twelve pounds. Altho
there were times when food was short
and not the best, yet the returning
boys look fine and fit. They have
proved themselves to be the greatest
lighting as we'll as the greatest peace
nation on earth. As a temperance
nation they will prove themselves to
be the greatest industrial nation.
The law does not say that a ma
shall nor must not drink Intoxicating
liquors. 1t forbids the manufacture
and sale as d beverage, because human
nature has so many infirmities that
the strong is made to give UP that
which they can resist for the infirm-
tiles of the weak
1t is a long, long trail from our
boyhood days when every family a
their barrels of cider, apple jack which
served as medicine, bathing the babies,
as well as a tonic. 1t made them
warm for winter work and kept them
cool in harvest time. But the n
who INDUCED most sought the shade
first.
Seventy years ago all stores kept
it for family use. Home brewed beer
with ginger cakes were the treats at
the musters, when men drilled with
broom sticks and cornStalkS when they
had no guns a century ago. When
men became drunken upon pure apple
lack and cider the after effects were
not so deleterious as the chemical
dopes sold for whiskey in recent
years.
1t is the chemical dopes and largely
commercialized beer interests owned
mostly by German capitalists that
brought the liquor interests into dis
repute during the world war. The
German brewers expected to get big
profits in d~emoralizing the American
armies and then collect billions in
tribute from thir conquered foes.
old Taverns
A hundred years ago Upper Penns
Neck Township had two taverns
where travellers stopped for liquid re-
freshments. Penns Grove did not have
a local habitation and a name until
the first wharf was built in 1881
Biddle's Tavern, on the Layton farm
now owned by the dupont Company,
whence they pump water for DUPONT
Villages. At the Tavern the militia
mustered for drills. When the brick
hotel was erected by Wilmington cap
jtalists in 1882 David Smith, who kept
Biddle's Tavern, moved to Penns
Grove and kept the hostelry beside
the river. A licensed tavern was kept
there or in French's Hotel building
opposite from that date until the hotel
license was revoked by the Court NO
vember IS, 1915. There was one dry
spell during the existence of the local
option law in 1889, as Salem County
voted dry in 1888.
The other tavern was at Helms
Cove in the brick building now oc-
cupied by Charles e.. Summerlll, East
Maple Avenue. During the great
Methodist revival ip h old Cove
School house during the winter OF
1886, Robert and Francis +. Walker
who kept the tavern for their mother,
Catherine Diver, John Oliver being her
second husband, were converted;
Their new religious experiences LED
them to voluntarily quit the sale OF
LIQUORS. Before these meetings morse
racing and drinking apple jack on
Sundays was the farmers ahluse-
ments.
The next morning after their con-
versions the citizens gathered around
the tavern sign post and decided to
cut it down. Daniel Nanneman' d
Methodist leader, suggested that 1t be
dag up so it would not sprout again.
It was dug up and never was there
another tavern in the Cove.
It's a long, long trail from the clos
ing of one tavern by a Methodist re-
viyal in 1886 to a complete closing
July l, 1919.
Closing The Bar
Sunset and evening star
Are still reserv'd for thee;
1t now has come the closing OF the bar,
While water still is free.
Today, from out the clash OF wal n
strife,
Has come an awful jar
Thus sodden men must lead a sober
life,
For clos'd up tights the bar.
The Press Suspended
The second edition of The Press ap-
U1L,,-Jox- onI announced It's