The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-12-03
Liquor an Sociabilit'

Tell Binkley addressed our local
cider makers at Melodeon Hall last
night on 9TH Relation O. Liquor t.
Sociability.p Mr.. Binkley told his
hearers that he did not want t be un-
derstood as bein' neither side O. tn
wet and dry question-that he wuz
not in the pay O. any league or society.
He said further that it wuz neither his
business or his ambition t purify any
community, an that he proposed t.
speak O. liquor as he knew it Jest thu
same as if he wuz t. discuss tornado
insurance or any other subject with
which he wuz familiar. He also said.
We're fortunate t. be livin' at a time
when tn world is bein' made over as
tn result of terrible con1agration
that has taxed tn resources o. many
nations. Millions o. men in arms have
been turned back int TIL peaceful
channels O. life; great factories and
mills are turnin' Their energies t. TIL.
manufacture O. tn Implements o.
peace; great international problems
lookin' toward lastin' epace are bein'
discussed. Great as this overturnin'
is-great as will be tn changes wen
undergo, whatever comes t. us as a
result O. tn war ii be puny an in
significant compared t. TIL awful Jolt
which awaits sociability when tn last
carload O. whiskey has been stolen
from tn Kentucky warehouses. Fer
a great many years it has been gov
eminent offense t. give a Injun LIQUOR.
Our government held that LIQUOR de-
stroyed Injun's usefulness, that it
interfered with civilian processes.
Our government has held that a Injun
under tn influence O. liquor would
often buy buggies an bicycles when
he didn't need 'em. That he would
sometimes kill. Yit our government
has not worried about how much liquor
tn white man guzzled or how many
red vests an autos he bought while
stewed. A Injun should have tn same
right t. spend all his government pay
fer Stetson hats as tn white man has
t. fritter away his weekly pay fer beer
an cloth top shoes. But well take
up tn social end O. tn booze game an
talk about tn THOUSANDS o. temperate
drinkers that have t. load up t. be
affable. Some time ago l attended
banquet. This banquet wuz timed fer
seven o'clock. At six-thirty tn guests
begun t. assemble in the hotel lobby.
Nobuddy was smilin'; nobuddy seemed
t. know anybuddy else; all chins WIZ.
up; ther wuz no hand shakin'.
looked like convention O. door men
Ever buddy wuz ill at ease an nervous
saw several fellers thought knew
but / wuz afraid t. approach 'em. Att
seven sharp tn door t. tn banquet
room flew back an we all filed in an
took our places at tn table. BY each
plate wuz Kentucky toddy an box
o. cigarettes. In two minutes tn
whole room wuz one broad smile; S
then the recognitions begun; then thfv
laughter an slaps on tn abek. A tally
pombous Teller with pink head called
me by name He was a Teller had
been introduced to forty years ago
Joplin, Missouri. A little round felle
in nose glasses recognized me acros
tn room an knocked four tables owe
gittin' to me. You don't know me
but l know you," he said. He turneQ
out t be a Teller l started t. schoo
with forty-five years ago, an he'd lived
in Providence, Rhode Island, fer tn
last thirty-eight years. After they
quit pourin' wine an tn Principal adj
dress O. tn evenin' had started, four
fifths O. tn quests repaired t tn hotel
abr where several quortettes wu7
formed. 1t finally developed that ever
guest there knew me- l couldn' recall
any o. them, but I wuZ glad t sel
'em all agin an t. learn that they wuz
all prosperin' beyond tn dreams
avarice. Several days after | go
home l received barrel O. apples
four fountain pens, three neckties, an
four boxes O. cigars"