Merry Repeal Night Sees Boston Well Submerged in First of Legal Liquor

Cambridge last night maintained its long-standing drought; although alcohol was being consumed within the law in Boston and in large sections of the remainder of the nation, the only wassail within the sacred purlicus of Cambridge was either extra-legal or imported individually. Furthermore, there is no prospect of any spirituous relief until December 19; on this date, the Cambridge City Council voted at a meeting last night, the polls will be open to the public from ten until eight o'clock for a special vote on the liquor question. The ballot which will be presented to the people on that date will contain two provisions only: "a. Shall licenses be issued allowing the sale of hard liquors such as rum, whiskey and gin? b.--Shall licenses be issued allowing the sale of wines and malt liquors?" If, however, one per cent of the registered voters, 430 persons, so petition, a clause may be added to this bill for voting on the taverns.

While Cambridge was thus postponing the eventual decision, a large proportion of its inhabitants had joined the festive crowds in Boston, where liquor was on sale early in the evening. According to reports received late last night, the celebrators had been deceived by confused newspaper accounts, and had imagined that no liquor would be sold until ten o'clock at the earliest. This fact probably did much to prevent any too riotous demonstration, although, when last word was had, the drinkers were doing their best to make up for the time they had lost. Hotels and other places so fortunate as to have procured a license by the time liquor went on sale were doing a rushing business; they did not report any violence or undue drunkenness before eleven o'clock. According to Mr. A. W. Nolet, manager of the popular Club Touraine: "This repeal is going to be a great and fine thing, and it is going to do away completely with the speakeasy. Many people say that repeal will not end the speakeasy; they claim that it will be able to undersell the legal restaurants and taverns. This is impossible, for to exist they must charge exorbitant prices in order to meet the expense of bringing in or making the illicit liquor. Who will pay prices that are equal to, if not more than, our prices to go speaking around drinking bad liquor?"