According to statements made by some of the proprietors of cigar and cold drink stands, there is to be a partial observance of Sunday “blue laws” here today and it will not be permissible to buy cigars, cigarettes, tobaccos of all sorts, and drinks at certain places—other places can sell them.
Determined to at least partially enforce some of the local laws, authorities last Monday yanked a Mr. Shaw who operates a cold drink and ice cream parlor on Middle street, into municipal court after his place of business had been found open a part of Sunday. Shaw said that he didn’t know that such was a violation of the law. He pointed to the fact that others here were selling ice cream, cigars, etc., on Sunday and that there seemed to be no kick. He was a new man here, he said, and he wouldn’t have done it if he had known. He paid the cost.
Thereby hangs the story.
If Mr. Shaw couldn’t sell ice cream, sody pop, cheroots and gum drops on Sunday, it evolved upon the authorities to close up other places and not permit them to sell these same things. Orders were given out instanter. Therefore, they wouldn’t sell—not today, anyway—unless they want to take a stab at it and do so.
But, while they can’t sell cigarettes, cigars, axle grease and hair pomade, they can sell newspapers, magazines and shoe shines just as of yore.
Also drug stores and cafes can sell anything they want to, that is within the law, and that means anything except moonshine. The can sell all New Bernians can smoke, chew and drink of sody pop, as of yore.
The “blue laws” are partially in effect today. Whether they will become more effective or be entirely quashed remains to be seen.
From the New Bernian, Sunday, June 10, 1923. Soda pop was deliberately spelled sody in the paper.
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