Things learned watching Ken Burns series on Prohibition last night:
By 1830, the average American over 15 years old consumed nearly seven gallons of pure alcohol a year
The word scofflaw came out of Prohibition. A contest was held to find a word that best described someone who continually flouted Prohibition laws. The prize was $200 and out of 25,000 entries, “Scofflaw” became the winner and stuck in the American lexicon. Interestingly enough, the neologism it was actually submitted by two people and the prize split!
A lady named Carrie Nation decided if the state of Kansas would not enforce its own 1889 Pre-Prohibition laws banning alcohol that she would, and went from tavern to bar and back again with stones she called ‘smashers”, destroying mirrors, barstools, bottles of whiskey and kegs of beer. In one day she was arrested four times, released each time by reluctant law enforcement without bail, her fines suspended! After she led a raid in Wichita her husband joked that she should use a hatchet next time for maximum damage. Nation replied, "That is the most sensible thing you have said since I married you." and from then on gained a reputation for "Hatchetations" She described herself as "a bulldog running along at the feet of Jesus, barking at what He doesn't like,"
4 comments:
Sort gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Bible thumping' ....
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sort of ... GEESH!
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Jeezuuus, what a munter of a woman - she looks like a cross between Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill and a pug (those small scrunchy faced dogs that are bred not to breath very well).
I am surprised the woman was not bottled - i would have if she tried to nick me gin!
Methinks she is not a pointy heeler.
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