HUMORS OF THE WHISKY WAR IN AMERICA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1858, 20 July 1874, Page 3

HUMORS OF THE WHISKY WAR IN AMERICA.

[SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN.] S The general plan of operations .varies little in different place?, and is y.ery v pic7 turesquely described; by one of the liquor sellers, who finally succumbe'dr-a .man who kept a saloon in M f Arthur, .^inton county, who says: "They climbed up to my place a week ago last night, fifty-four of them, young J and old, rich and poor, some in rags and some in fine harness. Each of the fifty-four women came up personally and spoke to me, and hoped I'd get a new soul. Of course I had to treat 'em politely. . There waa. only, one lamp burning in the room when they came in, so I lit another for them, to make it lighter. Then they took out their hymn-books, asd all sang together. .One or two of them led, and ; the rest joined in. After they had sung fifteen minutes or so, they all got down on their marrowbones and prayed. There was one woman there that could pray loud enough to be heard all over the village, which has only eight hundred inhabitants. A woman would pray, and the Vest would juri in with a a-a-men, along and loud one. One of the women that prayed was 70 years old. She prayed so lung and strong that she got herself all of a tremble, and had to be lifted to her feet and carried downstairs. One time they called, all got down on their morrow-bones, on the side, and sung and prayed, They are very kind in their prayers at first. They pray fora fellow's soul, and then stick a petition before him. It he don't sign to quit, they pray for lighting to strike his shop. There was nothing else to do but close up when they were carrying on that way. They closed everything in the village down to an oyster saloon where the folks were in the habit of playing a game of cards to see who would pay for the stews, a place where there wasn't a drop of liquor sold." One of the most uriiqne specimens of literature called forth by the crusade is this letter from William Weingardner, a German liquor-seller in Morrow, begsjing off from his pledge:— " Kind ladies, you have come to see me, and I am • happy to . see you. ,. •. I receive, you kindly, and with all the respect a gentleman can. Can you plead with me to quit the business while I have a wife and thre<? little children depending on me for a living! I have no trade, and have built my house\ for the' purpose you ace, and I feel' it ray duty to feed and clothe Christ's blessed children, and the love I feel for my little children cannot be broken. , ITpw, can I appeal to you all to i stay your^pfoceedings, and -let me live quietly in my little home? ', God placed each and all here for free, liberty and free speech, and why cannot you allow me these blessings? I will plead with tears in my eyes, and I shall trust in God the result.. I do not know the ways of this country as well as I should. Ladies, I signed your paper and am not sorry for it ; but I have some stock ale on hand, and cider and wine, and I want a committee of men to come and buy them. Well, ladies, I have reconsidered this matter, and wish to say that it is my request to withdraw my name from your pledge, for it h out of my power to withdiaw from my business at present. So I don't wish to be bothered with your singing and praying any more. This is my final decision." In some places the whole populace seems to be carried away with excitement. Thus we find that at Washington Court House, lately, a grand mass-meeting was held at eight o'clock in the morning, the banks and business houses all being closed, and the citizens gathering, in crowds at the Presbyterian Church, reinforcements all the while coming in from the country. An hour was spent in singing and prayer, during which one of the liquor-sellers sent in his surrender, and then the' people formed a procession, with -the women in front, and went to the different saloons, pleading with the :i proprietors to give up the business. Among others, they visited a German named Beck, who upon being asked if the women should come into the yard and sing and pray, said— "No, .no, no. I don't vttut no more of dese viixuns. I don't vant no more sing and pray.. I can't stand dat. I talks totepizness men, no to de vimens." After some talk he proposed' to stop for two months, but this was not satisfactory, and his besiegers kept at it till finally he came forward, and said---" Shentlemen and ladies— l'll shtop. I von't sell no more lickers so long as never." Then three rousing cheers were given for Beck and the party returned to town, where bells were rung, and there were general- congratulations. The new temperance movement of the women continues to spread in all direc tions, though it is not followed in all cases with ihe same success which has crowned it&wforts in the smaller towns of Ohio.