1935 The Barkeeper's Golden Book by O Blunier

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the rivers of the great wilds, alcohol played an important «r61e». With the aid of this «strong water» 90 percent of the colonists were able to undergo the enormous strain and carry on with the hard labour of clearing and cultivating the soil, amidst continual fighting for their existence against the Redskins. Their primitive life with all its atrocious hardships and the continual danger of life to their families called for the highest courage and perse verance. Undeniably the greatest share and merit in the conquest and cultivation of the new World must be ascribed to alcohol, a fact that is confirmed by the numerous stories of old seamen. In those days the Bar was the public room or house, the rendez vous place of each settlement, where the members of the com munity as well as the wandering groups of traders and seamen came together. In this public room all business was transacted and every traveller had to report himself and it was here that he could get any information wanted or hear all the news of the day. The house was called the «Common Store» and the man who conducted it, generally a man of some education—sometimes a clergyman or an officer—was called the «Commander». Only these men were authorised to sell alcohol. In large settlements these public houses would contain sleeping- rooms for guests and stables, and even a constable room (police) was added, and the house was now called an «Inn» and the Bar tender an «Innholder». Now laws were made, which fixed certain hours for the retailing of liquor to local settlers, while guests and travellers passing through the place were free from these restric tions. In such inns a lively trade was carried on with gunpowder and arms, horses, furs and many other commodities. A news service, reporting the happenings of the outer world, developed and acquired great importance. All these settlements were in continual contact with a Fort, the military protection and support of the colonists. The largest settlement generally developed around a Fort, and it was here that pioneers, who wished to advance towards the Wild West, usually left their families for months under the protection of the soldiers. Later on, when towns came into existence. Bars were kept for their own sake and began to be called «Saloons». The law forbade guests or visitors to step behind the counter, the «barrier» or

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