SIT DOWN AND PURL

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 2, 1 March 1946, Page 7

SIT DOWN AND PURL

All sorts of sit-down strikes seem to be quite in order. Even the lovelorn SWain has copied the labouring man’s technique, and refused to budge from his self-imposed sit-down-on-the-floor until his heart’s choice responded to his proposal with a somewhat deferred “Yes.” Indeed, the sit-down protest is fast becoming as popular as mail jong and crossword puzzles in their heyday —but it is not new’.

Hack in Indiana more than one hundred years ago the righteous women of Mooresvillc sat dow’n and knitted to show their determined opposition to the sale of liquor in their town. They did not sit down in their own homes, or in a church or some other highly respectable place. No, they invaded the only saloon in town and took possession of, and purled the hours aw’ay.

And was the proprietor’s lace red ? He had a full house, but no customers. The “boys” simply would not patronise that bar as long as the ladies were present. As for the ladies, tbsy worked in relays or shifts, all day and all night, purling in the most zealous manner. The w’omen labelled their action “a strike for decency.”

That saloon-keeper of 1831 gnashed his teeth and argued a bit, and stood his ground for several days. Somehow’ he could not get the knitters to listen to his reason : ng. They refused to gather up their needles and yarn, and go home. Finally the man agreed to get out of town, and take his stock of liquor along; but the ladies remained until he had fulfilled his promise.— From “Stop Press.”