A story in a 1905 Spokesman-Review suggests that Irish bars have a long and checkered history in Spokane.

The Shamrock Bar, at 213 Stevens Street, was closed down due to "unsanitary conditions," but the story suggests it also had a wild and raucous reputation before that.

"The Shamrock has been a source of amusement and alarm to the police department," reported the paper. "Patrick Kearney, presiding genius of the establishment, has a beautiful set of red whiskers which he wears a la Dundreary. The police have quelled several riots which started from the attempt of some carouser to fondle the same Dundreary whiskers."

Dundreary whiskers were long, flowing sideburns, somewhat like mutton chops, named after Lord Dundreary, a character in a popular play, "Our American Cousin."

The story goes on to say that Kearney had recently arrived from the "Ould Sod" and that "beer and brouge" (brogue?) are doled out to the customers. When a customer once complained that the beer was flat, Kearney was quoted as saying, "Oi know, me boy, it is a trifle flat. But it is better for your stomach that way."

The story sadly noted that by order of the Sanitary Inspector, the lights were out, "the jangling piano stilled and Stevens Street mourned."

Today, O'Doherty's Irish Grille fills the Irish bar niche not far from the old Shamrock in downtown Spokane -- but without the problems or the Dundrearys.

Meanwhile, I'll throw out this related question: For what other reason has "Our American Cousin" gone down in history?

Those well-versed in America's past shouldn't have much trouble answering that one.

Okay, I'll play."Our American Cousin" was the play being performed at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. and attended by Abraham Lincoln on the night he was assassinated.

This information brought to you by a person educated on the East Coast during he 1960's and 1970's .

Well, I was going to answer with the same response, but this time by a person educated on the West Coast during the same time period.