KinSource - Tale of the Week

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Daily Globe, October 11, 1895, p. 8

MOCKER IS MUTE.

WINE ROOMS OF THE CITY PRACTICALLY CLOSED THESE NIGHTS.

NO TINKLING OF GLASSES.

NOR BOISTEROUS LAUGHTER HEARD WITHIN THE LITTLE WOODEN STALLS.

THEY ARE SILENT FOR A TIME.

Chief Clark's Action or the Grand Jury Responsible for the Change.

The wine rooms of St. Paul have been as vacant, as desolate and as melancholy for the last few nights as the ruined halls of imperial Babylon. Coy jests floated not above the music of the tinkling wine glass, vows as unstable as their recipient were not whispered into willing, but skeptical, ears. Youthful lips, yet fresh with rouge, were stained not with the Burgundy of Milwaukee, nor the rich old port of St. Louis, the innocuous claret of South St. Paul. The softening and idealizing influence of Eve's sweet sisterhood no longer raised imbruted man from the stupor of the wine cup. Champagne was drunk in this city. So, perhaps, was beer. But both were, to all appearances, drunk by men alone - sad, wistful and deserted men. Whether the proprietors of the luxurious boxes wherein the wine moveth itself, were intimidated by the vigorous and judicial instructions given to the grand jury now in session, or whether the recent action of the police had convinced the diffident fair that they might have to explain to Matron Cummings why they had allowed themselves to drink "that horrid champagne" could not be decided. But not only were wine rooms without their usual customers, but in the case of several of the most disreputable resorts, the usual side or back entrances had been closed against the public. One place on Wabasha street, which might more fittingly be styled "the Whitened Sepulchre," and which is known and beloved by many "new women," who are not afraid to drink anything that a man can survive, had closed, at early 9 p. m., its unobtrusive side door.

The most notable transformation scene, perhaps, was that to be witnessed at a so-called hotel on Robert street. This saloon and its various adjuncts is said to be the most demoralizing and demoralized resort in St. Paul. Ordinarily it is filled with patrons, nor are all the patrons ladies and gentlemen devoted to strictly intellectual enjoyment. They are fond of pleasure, but they despise not beer, and, though they may have little themselves of the dross of wordly wealth, they are willing to take all that their neighbor may possess. Last night only three men were to be seen in the "ball room" of this place. The big fiddle was there and the two little fiddles - all three in strident and discordant operation. But the three male customers sat apart as melancholy, as [unconvivial] as if they had been reading Seneca or Mrs. Humphrey Ward. The Olympus was not without its goddess. But her reign as mute. Silent she sat, wearing a pensive, perturbed look and a big red feather on her hat. Her jeweled fingers grasped not the illusive beer cup. The melody of her voice was hushed. She seemed like Joan of Arc at a universal peace congress. Lieut. Sexton, when asked to explain her incongruous attitude, stated, with his cane athart a Seventh street lamppost, that she was simply "de trop," and she probably was.

The St. Paul Daily Globe, October 30, 1895, p. 2

WILL PLEAD GUILTY.

Wine Room Keepers Have Decided To Do So.

The saloonkeepers of the city who were recently indicted by the grand jury for maintaining wine rooms in connection with their establishments, have, by agreement, decided to plead guilty. The interested parties held a protracted meeting at the California Wine house, and after a great deal of discussion, upon the advice of their attorney, came to this conclusion. Yesterday morning the attorneys representing the indicted men came into court and, after a short talk with Judge Kelly and the county attorney, withdrew. In explanation of their course, it is said that under a decision by Judge Otis two years ago the saloonkeepers did not suppose that in conducting the wine rooms they were carrying on an unlawful business, but since it is apparent that it is unlawful and that the public sentiment is so strongly against the wine rooms, the proprietors concluded to withdraw their former plea of not guilty and plead guilty to the indictments as returned by the grand jury.