THE GREAT DRY LAND.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 139, 27 May 1920, Page 2

THE GREAT DRY LAND.

AMERICA’S "BEAT” ON THE WORLD IN VIRTUE! The greatest drought on earth is now the natural birthright of Americans, and 1 believe that secretly they, rake pride in the magnitude of that desiccation, says a correspondent of the “Sunday Chronicle” who has been visiting the United States. Think of it..a hundred million souls, and not a glass of beer to share between them 1 The curious part of the affair is that America has become dry if not without a murmur at least without a kick. The great majority are resigned, if parched ; and a 1! but the “serious drinkers”- — one of the delightful phrases’ I have picked up here—declare that America will never again become “wet.” Crime has diminished, trade is brisker and productivity is greater. The drynes's certainly ciocs not seem to diminish strikes; the whole country has struck, is striking, or is about to strike- Even the “routine murders ”' are holding their own. The dry champions are so pleased with the success of their operations that indy are beginning a campaign to make tooaeco smoking illegal; and these are out the njbb'jiigs in tneir work of reform. They mean to go for the whole Hindenburg line of the peccadilloes of men. In some States it is even now Illegal to smoke cigarettes! GONE GOOD! “We’re a virtuous nation,” said an American to mo at dinner. The look in ms eyes spoke unucteraole tmngs, for 1 remembered min at a time wnen he osciuaied between the poles of whisky .agnua Js and buttermilk, and the nauiuo.,ani da.-.a of ms recovered youth were not mose of tne buttermilk. That maud liquor now marks tne limit of his excesses.

is tne law ever broken? Yes, but with a sense of holy terror. In one city, where 1 was introduced to the members of an athletic club, 1 observed tnat look of maudlin astuteness, the stertorous, incoherent utterance, the confidential amiability that made me expect to see cue “rea‘. stuff.” ft was there all right, out so was an outside guard on tne police.

tri one New York restaurant I saw a bottle of French wine disporting in ait its glory. A few days later it was impossible to have bought a glass of -ne lightest of wines for love or money". AU that was ’eft was “near-beer,” tlibugh one-half of one per cent, can only witji difficulty be called near. at another restaurant 1 saw some French wines disguised" to look like ginger-ale—a pathetic sight. It was being drunk by a New York magnate, who had with great precision thought out his strategy. “If there’s any sign of police,” he said, “over goes the whole tab'e-” T.T’S. USE FIRE-IRONS.

These precautions were not excessive, for two nights previously a number of dry police officers had suddenly burst into a saloon—kept by One, Tommy O’Brien —and on slight provocation had shot right and left, bringing down a “serious drinker” an a gentleman who was standing on the side-walk outside. The wets have thrown up the sponge for the moment, but they talk of revising the law in seven years’ time. Wei’.; a high ideal will lead men on but imagine tne feelings of a serious drinker ■ compelled to work seven torrid years for the chance of a glass of whisky. There is also talk of starting a line of steamboats, twice weekly, to the Bahamas, or even to Porto Rico; even of mooring a big hotel outside the threemile limit.

Diplomatic difficulties here arise, however, for if the flag be the Stare and Stripes prohibition will still reign, whereas if it be foreign then passports must be obtained for each voyage. Private enterprise has salved the difficulty in some cases. For instance, a man in Boston discovered what he called a “self-starter.” It was made up of molasses, popper, „ raisins, and wheat. Possibly also an o’d bottle of rum. At any rate, the self-starter did not know where to stop, and, as he tried to fight several soldiers, he was I given a fortnight to got back to his old scratch. | If a man has liquor in his own cellar he can use it,or even give it to his guests. A journalist friend of mine told me he was safe for five years ahead ; a millionaire not long ago spent a hundred thousand dollars on a like insurance. "Chance will not do the work-”—Scott. Ko one can afford to take chance# with health. Yet bow many during the winter, when cough# and cold# are bo dangerous, experiment with preparation after preparation. ' Take Baxter’# Lung Preserver immediately and be sure; Mr. Baxter did .all the experimenting 64 year# ago and now you cun promptly remedy cough, cold, sore throat, chest and bronchia! troubles. This sterling specific Is quick in its action, permanent in its relief. Get large 2a 6d bottle to-day from chemist or store.