Evening star., 1927-06-29

to remind her of England. where she
has lived. mostly since girlhood,
though American.born, that this in
teresting American dry law has turn
ed everybody into naughty school
children. They have the same spirit
that makes little boys blow putty at
teacher. and little girls draw carica.
lures of teacher on their states.
'If 1 were completely a prohibi-
zionist myself I might take it
more seriously. AS 1t is, I watch the
fun from the sidelines and have
learned a lot. I find that in the big
cities, where people are a bit bored,
and welcome anything that adds to
the gayety Of nations. they treat pro-
hibition as a beautiful joke and
priceless topic of conversation. They
simply wouldn't think of having it re.
pealed."
Alice Williamson, who. with her
husband, has written more travel and
adventure stories than probably any
other author alive-of her age-com-
mutes among New York. London,
Hollywood, Algiers and points north
by-east, observing as she goes. And,
although it is harder to make her
drink cocktails than for a Hindu to
kill flies, Mistress Alice regards with
an indulgent eye conspiracies against
Mr.. Volstead.
Raising the Morale.
'I am for his dry law" she gayly
insists, IF only because it makes life
so exciting-evading it, you know,
and all that. The British are sim
cerely interested. and talk of it con-
stantly. They want to know it's work
ings, it's origin, its results. They feel
that II the United States has seen fit
to pass this statute there must be
reason behind it, and great benefits
to the people. They weigh the pos
sibilities of it's being adopted by Great
Britain. Even Australia is sitting on
the edge of it's chair looking and
listening for American results"
And they are likely to try a SIM
liar law"
The vivacious little lady shook her
head.
I'm afraid not, yet. It's the eli.
mate, you see. With such dampness
and darkness and penetrating chill,
they've simply got to find some means
Of raising the morale. How appall-
ing an English Winter, how devastat.
ing a Scotch mist (lnostly q continu.
y
to raise the bodily temperature,
Americans are different from the
English. The English just loathe be-
ing told what they can't do, and
rather enjoy it. Just look
what they put up with in the subways
and traffic crushes. How meekly they
take snubs from salespeople and sass
from policemen. 1t seems to me they
good naturedly to almost any.
thing.
Mrs. Williamson Pokes Fun.
And they do SO adore efficiency
Tell them a certain breakfast food
produces pep, and they eat tons of
1t. Show them a new system for pro-
ducing energy and industry in an Of
flee, and they install it the next in
slant. If the drys can sell the idea
that teetotalism makes mass pro-
duction' more possible, I'm sure they
will win.
"At all events. as subject of con-
goes on our Sprightly
writer.lady. prohibition is invalu-
able. It annihilates time and space.
AS a source of funny stories, as a
laugh-raiser on the stage, as a prob
lem for debate, 1t Is supreme. Even
as starter of fights it is stimulating.
1T is so enjoyed and fills such a
long felt want that the weather as
a subject of talk has been quite OBJ
scured. The damns and hells that
formerly drew mirth in the theater
have been supplanted by TASKS and
shakers, while the least refer
ence to bootleggery and hi-jackery is
a cue for wild applause.
S~akA kA6 tn "a
sion of bootlegging when came to
America after prohibition that 1 got
myself a bootlegger, and found him
even more entertaining than I had
expected. 1t seems he was also a
gunman, and he told me in the most
naive way Of his adventures. He
took pride in his inventiveness. The
luggage holders at the back Of his
car were receptacles for liquids and
other cases were slowed beneath the
chinchilla laprobe which protected his
lady companion.
The Conventional BOotlegger.
"He was most conventional, how.
ever, in his ideals of femininity. Dis
of women smoking. Wouldn't
allow wife or daughter to taste any in
toxicant. And his moral exactions
from women were or the StrlcteSC. IL
seemed never to occur to him his trade
was questionable. He regarded him.
self as a benefactor Of humanity.
1T gave me to think as uor French
friends say, for they are inclined to
scoff at law which specifies what one
shall drink or eat or wear or privately
do"
"Do you think the law makes US
more temperate?"
II don't doubt it does in some
places-where they don't care much
for drinking anyhow. In Kansas, Ne
braska, Oklahoma-all through the
Middle West, I think it does really
work. People are more law-abiding in
quiet places than in New York or Chi
cago. And in the cities they adore the
law as an excuse to be naughty.
Most people don't actually care for
the stuff bootleggers sell, but as long
as 1t doesn't leave them permanently
blind and paralyZed, they love to
thumb their noses at authority. 1t
thrills them-but I wonder"-A- Mrs.
Ahce's blue eyes gazed afar off medita-
tively-"if they won't tire of their joke
after few years, when some new
source of fun comes along"
ran MANI -~ ~-Asar