El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-07-31

drink as soon as ne came under ones
roof and 10 keep him well supplied so
long as he honored your home with
bis presence. Filled decanters and
Elittering glasses stood on wine
chests in the back part of the han of
every old southern home and every
one helped himself at Will Servants
prepared drinks for every member Of
the family at certain times of the
day, and everybody regarded drinking
as essential 10 tolerable eNistenc as
eating Usually all slipped a mint
julep before breakfast, the master
took some whisky or brandy before
the noon meal and late in the after
noon, while female members OF the
household favored brandy and home
made vines. Wine and waters were
served every afternoon as tea is now
IN English homes While everybody
drank regularly, few drank excess
unknown. Drinking was confined al
most entirely 10 the home.
Nearly every nation has its own
drink, alcohol the base OF all stimu-
lating beverages Old sOutherners
drank bourbon. which is corn whisky.
though brandy was Highly esteemed
and much used; the English, brandy
and soda; the French, wine; the
Scotch. strong whisky; the Irish, gin;
the Russian. vodka the Germans,
beer Italians, Vermouth. and the
/ Mexicans, tequilla- Vodka is very
much like tequilla, Russians who live
[ in e Paso say, both simply alcohol
and water in various proportions.
Wine and Poetry.
The Greeks never undertook TO
climb the hills Of Parnassus unless
] they had called In the assistance Of
wine and it is feared by many that
much OF the beauty OF the world lies
buried in the grave filled by the 18th
amendment. Alcoholic drink has
stimulated men to the highest en-
deayor in all ages and the greatest
work Of the world has been done
under its influence. Not many men
have stood upon the apex Of human
power and usefulness unless stimu-
lated by strong drink.
II has always been customary for
men about to engage IN some
hazardous undertaking or forlorn
hope TO use stimulants- English SOL
diers have from time immemorial
been given portion Of rum just be-
fore beginning a battle. Alcohol has
been considered essential for medi-
cinal purposes for many generations.
It is interesting TO consider the ef-
feet that strong dring has had on
the history Of the world Somehow.
in these late strenuous days, men
have lost their reasonable control of
alcoholic drings and liquors had 10 90.
" uAal4N Easy 10 Mlhes
II IS very easy to make whisky and
1t may be expected that a great many
individuals viii undertake to produce
a sufficient supply for home consump-
ton as soon as their present well
stocked cellars show signs of deple-
ton. Many people who live among
the Appalachian mountains have
never yet believed that the govern
ment has any more right TO tax them
for changing their corn into whisky
than for saving their logs into lum-
Der, and they make all the moon
shine" they can IN that mountainous
country nothing but corn VIII grow
and It Is practically impossible TO
carry that over the rule trails 20
market They can easily transport
whisky in paying quantities beyond
the hills Those people have waged
Intermittent war against Internal
revenue officers since The Whisky
Rebellion" in the days Of Washing
ton Even yet many -moonshine'
stills are destroyed every year and
number OF fights ensue where men
are often killed
Every conceivable scheme to outwlt
officers OF the law has been devised.
Several things render moonshininE
hard to conceal Fire Is necessary
and smoke VIII rise and may be seen
for miles. The odor Of a sim is un-
mistakable and may be detected for a
considerable distance. Besides. a
standing reward Of $40 20 any man
who viii lead revenue officers 70 an
Illicit distillery is offered, and SO
loom large in the eyes Of some men
under certain conditions. Notwith-
standing these things, some Illicit
distlleries have been maintained un-
disturbed for years.
One sim Left.
There is at least one In the so
called dark corner" that has been in
aa.. r4na aa-
family for 100 years, and no revenue
officer has ever placed his foot
within miles OF IT, This distillery
operates day and night and produces
a large amount Of whisky every year.
No road nor even a foot path has ever
been made within two miles OF It and
few men have ever seen the plant
II Is located in a basin shaped valley
surrounded by practically impossible
mountains save where the little
stream breaks through the granite
hills. and this point Is carefully and
continuously guarded All the corn
used is transported 10 the place on
mems back They walk up the stream
and no trace Of their passing remains.
OF course, everybody In that sec
ton IS in sympathy with the plant
and all are actual guards FOR IL, so
that no suspicious stranger ever en-
ters- In the south. where much corn
is produced, just about harvest time
every year. many worthless men es-
tablish 'moOnshine" distilleries and
operate them for a short while during
the fall Of the year. doing great dam
age to the community.
Sugar Replaces Alcohol
Since national prohibition Of al
coholic drinks has been made effec-
tive by constitutional amendment,
many men who have been accustomed
10 drink in considerable quantities
and who cannot secure their accus-
toned beverages. have began TO eat
candy in large quantities. Candy
manufacturers say that the demand
for their products has Increased to
remarkable extent since the coun-