6
THE STJNDAT OTlEGOXrAX, TOWIULXD, SEPTEMBER 7, 1919.
THE THIRSTY MEET IN MONTREAL, CAPITAL OF BOOZE
m
The One Wet Spot Between the Arctic Circle and the Mexican Border Where the Law
Tx Liberally Interpreted; but Watch Out! The Spotter's on the Job By W. N. Burkhardt
MONTREAL IS THE OXLT OASIS 1 THE PROHIBITION DESERT OF TUE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND THIS HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN OVERTAXED SINCE JULY THE
MONTREAL in the province of
Quebec. Canada, is now the
boom city of the continent Its
hotels hang out 6. R. O. signs every
night in the week; rooming houses are
turning away prospective lodgers;
cafes and restaurants never were eo
busy; incoming- trains carrying extra
roacnes are nuea to capacity. Mont
real, be it known, is now the Booze
Capital. It's the one wet spot between
the Mexican border and the Arctic
Circle, the only oasis in the prohibition
desert of the United States and Can
ads. Thousands of thirsty pilgrims from
American and Canadian cities within a
radius of 1000 miles journey to it, some
every week; it is the hiding place of
tho golden fleece for hundreds of dry
throated Jason? who were caught short
when July 1 overtook them, or who
have dissipated their hoards since.
More than a year ago, when all the
rest of Canada went dry, Montreal be
gan to appear attractive to Canadians.
Since July J, when America crossed the
divide, it has become the most popu
lar resort In the hemisphere.
From Philadelphia and Pittsburg;
from Cleveland. Toledo. Detroit and
Chicago; from Ottawa and Toronto:
from Boston New York. Albany and
Buffalo, go disciples of Bacchus to add
to the worries of the hotel clerks and
Increase the congestion in the guzzle
parlors.
While men predominate, the crowds
from the United States are not by any
means recruited entirely from the male
population. Mixed parties, without
number, especially at the week-ends,
flock to the only city in two countries
where liquid exhilaration still can be
purchased and consumed openly in res
taurants and cabarets.
On paper, Montreal is near-dry. By
the vote of its citizens last spring, un
der the provincial local option law, it
became a beer and wine license city on
May 1. But when the mayor and the
council, almost to a man, are "liberals
when the provincial legislature is only
slightly dry, what's a law more or less?
Mederlc Martin, mayor of the Canadian
metropolis so long that Montreal has
forgotten it ever had any other chief
magistrate, expresses the official view;
"If the people want bone-dry pro
hibition they can have it; they had a
chance and rhey didn't vote for it.
This is what the people want."
The only changes noticed by the bar
room habitue when the old liquor li
cense was taken from its frame and the
newly-printed beer-and-wine permit,
that looks like a high school diploma,
was put In its place, were that the hard
stuff had been removed from the
shelves, that the eye-opener was poured
nto a glass under the bar instead of
rlth a flourish on top of the ma
hogany, and that one had to pay 35
cents for it instead of the usual 25.
Every barroom, every cabaret, every i
cafe that was in operation before May 1
is still lh business and getting more
trade in a day than it used to get in
two days or a week. And, in addition,
there are 14 wore places where intoxi
cants can be bought than there were
ever before. These are the legal ven
ders, appointed and authorized by the
provincial government to dispense "for
medicinal purposes" everything from
creme de menthe to rum.
Theoretically, that is, legally, the 14
government agents are the only ven
dors who may sell anything, stronger
than beer or wine and then only to
persons who present prescriptions
signed by duly licensed physicians. But
there are hundreds of Americans who
could testify that if liquor is sold only
by government vendors the number of
them is nearer 1400 than 14.
In reality Montreal Is "wide open."
Anyone who has the price can buy any
kind of liquor in any reasonable quan
tity in any barroom, hotel or "wet"
restaurant. He or she can consume it
on the spot, have it delivered any
where inside the city limits or have it
wrapped and carry it away.
No winking or whispering, no slip
ping around to back doors, no covering
up of any kiftd is necessary. In some
places regular patrons use a kind of
password, such as "number one" for
straight whisky or "number two" for
a Scotch highball; out none wno is
ignorant of the cabilistic signs is al
lowed to depart unslaked provided he
has the price. I
If a man wants a drink at a
bar all he has to do to get it ie to
walk up to the mahogany, wait until he
can capture the attention of the busy
white-aproned person behind it, then
ask for it quickly before another cus
tomer has time to put in his order. In
most of the bar-rooms the hard stuff
is kept out of sight, but within easy
reach of the tenders; In some of them.
particularly the hotels, all the varieties
of strong drink that man has im
prisoned in attractive bottles are lined
upon the shelves to be seen by any one
who has eyes to see.
If a bon vivant strolls Into a govern
ment vender's place, by mistake oi
otherwise, he has no more difficulty In
getting a bottle or a case of his fa
vorite brand 'than he would have in
a bar.
"I want three bottles of Scotch, two
of gin and one of Jamaica rum," he may
eay to the gentlemanly clerk behind the
counter.
"Where is your prescription?" the
clerk will ask.
"Got none."
"Here, doc, sign this," the clerk sings
out.
A seedy indiv'dual shuffles In from
the rear room, scrawls something that
looks like a name on the "prescription"
the clerk has scribbled, then shuffles
back again, while the nimble clerk as
sembles the order, wraps it and ex
changes it for a small wad of bills.
Some of the venders do not have a i
"doc." The clerks sign the prescription
themselves or they remain unsigned.
Since Montreal became so popular as
a summer resort for Americans the
venders have been doing a land-office
business. The fore-sighted ones have
locations near the hotels and railway
stations and employ clerks who are
adept at wrapping a package so it
looks as though it contains a brick or
anything except a bottle.
"How'ra I going to get this stuff
across the line?" about three out of
every five customers ask after they
have made their purchase.
They are told that the best way to
smuggle a few bottles past the Ameri
can customs officials at the border is
to choose a train that crosses the
boundary during the night and to con
ceal them In a berth, under the mat
tress. "Does it work?" a vender In a Bleury
street shop was asked by one timid
smuggler, who was far from sure of
himself.
"It sure does. There's a guy from
Philadelphia who comes over every two
weeks and takes back three dozen bot
tles every time. He must have a lot of
friends. Anyway, he gets away with
it, and that's the way he does it."
Within the last two -weeks special
agents of the United States customs
department have appeared in Montreal,
for the purpose of spotting Americans
who purchase package goods in the
venders' places and trailing them to
the trains. When several heavily-
laden pilgrims, homeward bound,
board one train the "spotter" some
tlmesgets on with them and accom
panies them to the border to point
them out to uniformed customs in
spectoral. The usual method, however.
Is for the spotter to telegraph descrip
tions of the carriers to the inspectors.
This will explain to one Philadelphia
sportsman, who tried a few days ago to
smuggle home a dozen bottles' of
Scotch for a stag party, and to several
other Phildelphians the extraordinary
persistence of the' inspectors who ex
amined ' their baggage and confiscated
their precious freight.
Since this "sDotter" system was lnsti-
I tuted the number of liquor confisca
tions at the border has increased ten
fold, it is reported, and the amount
smuggled into the United States has
decreased proportionally.
There is no means of estimating the
amount of liquor that is bought in
Montreal to be sneaked across the bor
der or of ascertaining how many pil
grims have Journeyed to the booze
capital eince July 1. Montreal i a
city of 750,000 population, it has a
dozen large hotels and scores of small
er ones and its streets in normal times
are thronged during business hours.
The lnfllix ie o great, however, that
crowds lu the streets and around the
hotels are noticeably larger. Hotel
men eay they have done more business
since July 1 than they ever did before
in a similar period of time; that they
are utilizing every inhabitable room
and bunking some patrons on billiard
tables and that a large proportion of
their guests are Americans; whereas,
in normal times their registers show
about equal numbers of Canadians and
Americans. The largest hotels, the
Windsor, the Ritz-Carlton and the
Place Vegler, are turning away appli
cants for rooms every day. Reserva
tions for week-end accommodations
must be made from one to three weeks
in advance.
"Most of our guests." says Herbert
Quick, manager of the Ritz-Carlton,
"come from New York. It is only a
night's ride, you know. Almost every
Incoming train, I understand, Ie carry
ing extra coaches, the traffic is so
heavy."
Or.e notable feature of the Montreal
situation, to which the antl-prohlbi-tionist
points with pride, is the fact
that there appear to be no bootleggers
in the city. To a person who has
traveled In Canada or the United States
since the dry waves hit the countries,
bootleggers in Montreal are conspicu
ous by their absence.
Another feature Is that the boom baa
attracted to Montreal hundreds of
liquor dealers from all parts of the
country, as an example, it is Known
that seventeen men who were in the
business in Winnipeg before that city
went dry Rave trekked to Montreal
and established wholesale or retail ais
Densaries er have become associated
with established Montreal dealers.
ORCHESTRA CONDUCTORS
FACE NOVELTY STORTAGE
Great Chance Seen for American Composer, Despite Unlikelihood of
Getting Together Because of Almost Prohibitive Rights Prices.
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER.
NEW YORK, Sept 6. (Special.)
Orchestras springing up in all
parts of the country are evidence
enough of the manner in which music
ie expanding. It is significant to note
that they are all of the very first-class
and their aims are of the highest. It
will not be easy sailing by any means
as there are many things to be consid
ered, not the least pressing of which is
are spending their entire
summer planning ior the programme.
All are agreed upon the fact that there
never was so great a shortage in the
way of novelties. Walter Rothwell who
has just accepted the post of conductor
of an orchestra of 90 men in Los An
geles broke into his vacation to or
ganize the orcnestr and to obtain a
library.
Carl Denton, for whom the Portland,
Or, Symphony orchestra has been
formed. Is, also in the field for reper
tory. In this regard he said:
"The American composer should have
his great chance now if ever, because
it is almost impossible to obtain novel
ties of any kind, but there is little
opportunity for the conductor and the
composer to get together because few
of these works are published and if
they are. the performing rights are eo
high as to make them almost pro
hibitive. The idea of exchanging ie not feasible
as it might seem to be because many
of the eastern librarians complain that
when they send their scores away
either to be agreeable or even to rent
them, they come back with pages and
parts missing. This dampens their de
sire to extend the courtesies.
There eecma to be a concensus pi
opinion that the material from coast
to coast ie of the very finest. In re'
gard to which Walter Rothwell said
"It is perfectly remarkable what a
fine body of orchestral players are now
available In the west. It Is really an
embarrassment of riches. For a conduc
tor who knows how to appreciate the
men under his direction and who real
izes that the men are well able to
understand the caliber of the conduc
tor, the incentive to do the greatest
things within one's power is very
strong."
If I may judge from hastily looking
over the situation I should say that an
orchestra would not have such an
ephemeral personnel as in the east. In
the first place those who live in that
garden spot love it and are glad to
think of permanent location. They feel
the lure of a home and they are In no
way related to the nomade who are
found elsewhere.
"This creates a sense of civic pride
which makes for the success of any
organization and I can only add that
I am very happy at the prospect of the
coming season."
Mr. Rothwell just returned to New
York where Mrs. Rothwell met him,
both giving up that much of their va
cation to settling the arrangements
for Mr. Rothwell's assuming his post
on the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Rothwell, who has a class of
over 75 pupils and a long waiting list
for next season, will not leave it.- In
addition to her teaching she will plan
to give a series of song recitals in
Aeolian hall.
In Sea! Harbor several of the coun
try's most noted conductors think they
are resting, but indeed this is a point
of view as Ossip Oabrilowitsch is plan
ning not only the repertoire for his
orchestra In Detroit, but also for his
recital and orchestral appearances as
pianist: Leopold Stokovskl is arrange
ing the most elaborate scheme he has
ever offered for the Philadelphia sym
phony orchestra not only in its home
town but also for a series of concerts
in New York and elsewhere on tour;
Artur Bodanzky is trying to forget the
cry of the Valkyrie in order to make
some programme that will Justify the
establishment of another symphony
orchestra In New York.
More than a little Interest is maul
fested in whether he will live up to
the raison d'etre of the orchestra which
was created to perform the ultra-modern
and the American works which do
not find a place on other programmes.
Needless to say that the public has
been led to expect something entirely
different from the accepted symphony
programme, no matter how artistic
that might be. Josef Stransky will not
let anyone get ahead of him in the
matter of works by American com
posers. He has begun activities In be
half of this much-maligned individual
until such time as he has really come
to see his merits and does not Include
the works as a matter of courtesy
to the country even though none knows
better than he how much he and every
other foreigner owes.
The question again presents Itself
who will perform Mrs. H. H. A. Beach's
symphony and her piano concerto?
Perhaps Mr. Stokovskl. who has done
it with such exceptionally great suc
cess in Philadelphia as to have made
a second performance of it welcome
will give it in New York where it has
never been done and where it would be
mightily welcome, not as an American
work but as a work of art.
DOYLE'S DEDUCTION.
Boston Transcript.
A woman who had read "Sherlock
Holmes" applied to Conan Doyle for
help in a matter that puzzled her.
"My detective powers are quite at
your service, madam," said the author
good naturedly. "What is the trouble?"
' Frequent and mysterious thefts have
been occurring on our premises for a
long time. There disappeared last
week a motor horn, a box of golf balls.
left riding boot, a dictionary and a
half a dozen tin plates."
"The case is perfectly clear," said
Sir Arthur, "1'pu keep a goat,"
Origin of Common Customs
Brought Down to Date.
A Few Modern Instances Not Yet
Cited in Encyclopedias.
fTI HE common custom or shaking
JL hands, according to an encyclope
dia In which we have every confidence.
was Introduced by the Phoenicians, who
signified their agreement to a bargain
by clasping hands.
The common custom of offering one's
left arm to a lady originated in days
when one was required to keep one's
right hand on the hilt of a sword.
Which reminds us
The common custom of treating orlg
Inated in the days when a drink of
whisky cost a dime, and continued more
or less generally until about a month
ago.
The common custom of making
touch was initiated by a man who went
on the rocks in the stone age, and it
has been practiced ever since.
The common custom of winking orig
inated when the serpent first began
to chat with Eve while Adam was do
ing the chores, and it still enjoys a
considerable vogue at beaches and on
excursion boats.
The common custom of swearing was
invented when the first hammer hit
the first thumb, and it has been under
going constant Improvement ever since.
The common custom of swearing off
began the first of January of some
year, but it was never really enforced
until the first of July of this year.
How Rats Carry Eggs Still
Unsolved Mystery.
HOW do rats carry eggs? Some
time ago the query was put to the
most famous of all American natural
ists, John Burroughs, according to the
Scientific American.- He admitted that
he didn't know. He had heard an ex
planation, current among farmers, but
he couldn't say that it was the correct
one.
The mystery of how rats carry eggs
is unsolved "officially" after hundreds
of years of conjecture. That eggs dis
appearing., are borne off by raU is
proved clearly enough by the discovery
of whole, uncracked eggs beneath
floors, in partitions and other hiding
places. In farming communities va
rious theories are advanced and every
now and then someone actually claims
to have seen the rats at work. These
eyewitnesses of a most unusual thing
ay the rat holds the egg between chin
and forefeet or hugged tightly between
the forefeet; that he tumbles off eleva
tions. deftly protecting the egg as he
falls; that usually there is a crowd of
rats about to drag the egg rat. lying
on its back, by the tail across the floor
to the hole.
Others say the rat carries the egg.
held between folds of skin under the
chin, without assistance. The general
testimony, however, would explain such
a conflict of opinion. It is agreed that
rats work In gangs when egg carrying
and that It is difficult to determine
from a distance exactly what they are
doing among themselves. It is said
there Is always much squealing, but
whether because some are getting hurt
or by contrast are hugely enjoying
themselves, is not indicated.
RESTORATION IS REFUSED
Cancellations of Concessions by Mex-
' lean Government Will Stand.
MEXICO CITY, Under no circum
stances will the government reconsider
cancellation of the concessions granted
to the powerful British corporation
known as the California Land company
and other similar concerns whose rights
have been attributed to Pastor Roualx,
secretary of agriculture, and develop
ment declared void, according to dec
larations by Excelsior.
The newspaper states that the secre
tary's declarations were made in a
press interview following a visit to the
department by Colonel R. J. McLean, an
Englishman, representing the owners
oi some of the properties involved. i
FASHION URGES CAUTION IN
SELECTING SLIPPER BUCKLES
It Every Woman, It Is Said, Can Wear These Ornaments Successfully.
Size and Shape of Foot Declared Important Matter.
CHOOSE your slipper buckles care
fully. Fashion adores these
sparkling buckles this summer,
but not every woman can wear slipper
buckles successfully. If a foot is
large the buckles are apt to make it
look larger, and if an tnstep is low, the
slant or angle of the buckle emphasizes
its flatness. Fashion says the bigger
the buckle the smarter the effect; and
this is true when the wearer has a
tinv foot with a well arched Instep.
Oddly enough, a woman with a num
ber three foot can wear bigger slipper
buckles than the woman possessed of
a number five or six pedal extremity.
If you have a long, slender foot with
a rather flat instep, choose rather
small slipper buckles and do not have
them too sparkling. If your foot is
broad as well as long, do not wear
buckles at all a section of slipper
showing at either side of a buckle
cruelly draw attention to your width
C or D.
Take excellent care of cut steel slip
per buckles, for once dulled or dusted
they, are very hard to clean or polish.
If you sojourn by the sea, keep your
buckled slippers in your trunk, wrapped
wearings, and do not let them stand
In a closet even on a shelf. Especial-.
ly do not let them stand on the floor
when not in use. oval buckles are
most becoming to Some feet; square
buckles to others. A plump foot usually
looks better with oval slipper buckles
and a slender one with square buckles.
Either kind demand silk stockings, as
background, for sparkling slipper
buckles are supposed to accompany a
dress-up. formal costume. They are
not as good style for the street, or for
wear with tailored suits, as buttoned
boots which fashion much fancla now;
and they should never be .worn with.
sport clothes, for slipper buckles and
outing togs do not agree at all.
Some of the black satin and taffeta
bathing suits, one notes, are daintified
and made more becoming by narrow
J bands of folded white net, basted into
ine v-necK opening. inv plain v -shaped
neck in dark material is rather
harsh and trying to any but very
youthful faces, particularly when the
costume is sleek and wet; and the line
of soft white between decolletage and
neck Is decidedly helpful. Of course,
the net fold must be often renewed but
It takes only a moment to baste in
a fold of net and the improvement to
the costume is wonderful.
Ribbons are discouragingly expen
sive this summer ana some of the sport
hats are trimmed. Instead, with knitted
or crocheted bands matching wool
sweaters. If a sweater is made at
home, it is a very easy matter to knit
or crochet an extra sand, long enough
to twist around a hat crown. The
band should have tab-shaped ends and
these are crossed in front and fastened
with a few stitches put in with the
yarn so as to be invisible.
On boardwalks by the sea many
pairs of buttoned boots are noted. A
breezy boardwalk is the place for one's
daintiest footwear and very trim and
smart the new buttoned boots look,
with their high heels and smooth lines
over instep and inkle. Many women
prefer to wear high shoes, part of the
time at least, all summer, so that the
ankles may not spread and grow
larger a serious danger when pumps
and sport oxfords are continually
worn. This summer the - buttoned
boot is the correct style In high foot
gear for all formal occasions and the
new models in white kid axe especially .
pretty.