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boys and girls. or to others in their presence. from
soda water founts. In trying to work, in a palpably
impractical manner, the utter destruction of a traffic
admittedly indestructible, the prohibitionists have
succeeded only in removing all legal safeguards
that have surrounded the sale of intoxicants and
rendered practicable abuses which would not be
tolerated in States where liquor is legally sold.
The law now in operation is as drastic as a stat
ute could be made t<> govern people of any land
where a semblance of freedom has a foothold. Any
amendment contemplated by its friends will fail de
plorably of its purpose, if that purpose be an im
provement over present conditions, unless account
is taken of the sentiment in support of a material
modification of the prohibition law. Any effort to
add to its severity will result only in contributing to
its weakness. It is quite likely that prohibitionists,
of the rank and file, are alive to this truth. 1 »ut the
professional doctrinaires, whose stock in trade is
agitation of public questions most conducive to
strife and dessension, are not yet satiated, and are
ready to resume hostilities, lest by inactivity along
this line, they sink into total oblivion.
A revenue official quoted in the Atlanta dispatch,
to which reference has been made, is of opinion that
‘‘the brewers of this State should be the last per
sons to want the prohibition law repealed or amend
ed/’ lie says: ‘‘Our records show that thev are
doing more business than they did before it was
passed, and their prospects are bright. If an
amendment came from any source it seems to me it
would come from the whiskey folks, who have moved
outside the State." This item would seem to dispose
of the charge made by the Anti-Saloon League that
the brewers are combined to fight for repeal or
amendment, at least, so far as Georgia brewers are
concerned.
If any person fond of occupying his mind with
unsolvable problems be at leisure, let him tackle the
question: AVhat becomes of all the “near-beer" al
leged to be turned out by the Georgia breweries?
The more energy he applies to investigation through
inquiry of persons who are known to be partial to
beer as a beverage, and the more assiduous his at
tempts to locate an individual who will admit, in
confidence, that he is addicted to tin 1 “near-beer"
habit, the more formidable and difficult the puzzle
grows.
Ts we saw about us no mental and physical con
dition of the body more reprehensible than the
“near-jag,” we might pin our implicit faith to a
“near-beer” monopoly in our midst, But persons
arc constantly turning up in the police court whose
“jags” are not merely “near,” but have actually
arrived on the spot. At least, tin’s is the diagnosis
made by the Recorder, and the wayfaring man is
given notice that alleged “near-drunks” are just as
costly as the complete article, when a distinction be
tween the two is not discernible to the practised eye.
Gospel Truths.
Ignore small things and become perplexed by
things still smaller.
Progress is a child of discontent. Discontent is
the parent of progress. It is natural for the parent
to care for its offspring. For this reason there can
be nothing but good to come of discontent, since
progress is essential to our existence.
THE REASON
Then' cannot be much liberty where the State
intervenes in local affairs. The American people be
lieve in liberty. Therefore, there will be no inter
vention by the State.
One of the best evidences that we are evil, consist
in our idea of evil within us. Me can have no idea
of anything that does not exist. Therefore, if you
are evil you ought to know it yourself.
Two bad men will hate each other more and
more as they are brought closer into contact with
one another, and they will he likely to injure one
another the more they have to do with each other.
To prevent hating and injuring one another Tom
and Iloke ought to separate. But, then, honest men
get their dues, when dishonest men fall out and tight.
So don‘t let them separate.
Where Honesty Wasn’t the Best Policy.
.Judge 11. D. I). Twiggs of Georgia once had tho
case of two young men from the country charged
with assault and battery to come before him.
“dim" the homliest, though the most attractive
because of his rugged honesty and natural blunt
ness arose to plead guilty before the court had
scarcely been called to order. “Sit down there,
you man, over there, sit down," commanded the
judge. “But-but" said dim, “1 wont -.” “Sit
down, I tell you, or I will tine you for contempt of
court," again demanded the judge.
A few minutes afterwards the court told “dim"
it was ready to hear his statement. Rising from his
seat in the prisoner’s box he approached the judge’s
bench and putting his hand on the top of it. said:
“Judge 1 aint goin’ to tell you no lie about this
tiling. Me and Allen there” pointing to Allen
“was a-playin' seven-up" and he bogged and I
give him one. Then he played the Ace and caught
my Jack and then played the Dueo. and I knocked
him down."
It was several minutes before silence, which had
been broken by the laughter following “dim ’s" con
fession, could be restored and the judge make him
se If heard.
At last he said. “I think ‘Jim’ that you were
perfectly justifiable in doing what you did. for
any man who will beg with such a hand as Allen
had, deserves to be knocked down. This ought to
be a warning to wealthy beggars and match sellers
who go about soliciting alms with much money hid
den away. 1 am in favor of knocking every one
down that does it. But, before dismissing the ease,
I want you to toll me, ‘dim’ whether you and Allen
were playing for money or not.”
“We shore wus Judge,” he said, “and I would
have got every cent he had if he had acted on the
square with me. But he wouldn’t do it, and when
1 knocked him down for it. he boasted that he'd
bet you’d fix me for it.”
“That will do, ‘Jim:’” said the Judge, “the
court is under obligations to you. The case of as
sault and baattery against you both is dismissed:
but I shall hold each of you for the grand jury on
the more serious charge of gambling. Mr. Sheriff,
take these men to jail and see that they are well
cared for. Call the next case Mr. Solicitor.”
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