The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-05-19
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
SARCOPHAGY.

serve now much has already been done bv in
dividual and combined exertion for the SUD
preston OF the acknowledgements SucF
check has been given to this beastly and de
structlve vice, that from my own observation
and experience | can affirm, with late writer
OF an article in the Spy, that man of respect
ability scorns to be seen either at tippline
shop or with bottle
But let net signal victory be mistaken fol-
total defeat. Although the enemy is driven
from the field, and dares not appear in the light
OF day, ne has many strong holds and hidinp
places IN the darkness of night. He waits only
tor time to renew his strength, rally his forces
and recover his ground. Nothing but the most
active vigilance and unremitted exertion will
give complete success. / therefore hope that
the above mentioned writer will not be weary
less twig that is either offensive, extravagant,
or unnecessary even if it should require the
extirpatlon of the whole tree In this hope
am encouraged by the assurance, that that
hlthy race, the "greedy devourers of tobacco
are no longer to s remain unmolested." After
the application of few more of the powerful
blows with which the writer has commenced
his attack, trust we shall no longer be annov-
ed by the "splashes of the venomous Juice, y
the . disgusting odor," or the nauseous fumes
of the poisonous Uphas;" or be obliged, at
vs.
counter modern phaeton or lighted cigar,
dancing up and down the streets like jack in a
lantern. Every man and woman of respecta-
biilty will storm to be seen, either at tobocco
shop, or with snuff box; and no one, except
some ignorant clown, who lives SO far behind
the hill that he has never seen a newspaper,
will dare continue such ridiculous and loath:
some habits.
But what will it avail to lop off twig or two
from the nursery in the hot bed of vice, while
the greedy devourer of animal food still remains
unmolested After hating upon his equity feet,
scarcely able 10 sustain his ponderous bulk,
stuffed with roast beef, turtle soup, ct cGtera,
he takes his accustomed seat, declaims with
violence against the popular extravagances of
the day, and belches out what he seems unable
to restrain, to the intolerabe annoyance of all
within his reach His "sight is disgusting"
and his odor still more So and his " taste all
must abhor" but those who have forced them.
selves into the unnatural habit of gormandizing
10 such, " this subject may appear small and
Insignificant; but to me it appears of immense
magnitude y inasmuch as it is extremely often
sive, extravagant, and unnecessary. Iwould at
once lay the axe at the root of this enormous
evil, and rid the country of this excessive ex-
travaagance which " threatens to crush the COM
munlty By its ponderous weight"
AoHo SaiO LndL LIle uS0 OF animal 1000 is not
only offensive, but extravagant and unnecessa-
ny. To prove this to the satisfaction of every
unprejudiced mind will require no labored ar
gument, or metaphysical subtilty. None but
epicures and gorn,an diso-s, whose heads are
stupifed by the fumes of gluttony, will dispute
the position.
1t is extravaganza A moderate meat eater
consumes, at the least computation, FIVE pounds
per week; which at ten cents per pound, (the
average price in the market) in year, amounts
to 20 dollars, while ga real thorough going
gormandzer will consume four or five times
that quantity. Add TO this the expense of cook
cry, and the numerous items which fashion or
whim has introduced to suit the perverted taste
OF flesh eaters, and you have an aggregate ex-
pense enough to sink the nation. Could we
get rid Of this swinis, beastly habit fit only for
Nultures, Tigers, and other voracious animals
1T would be needless to enumerate " the thou.
sand articles" for which this enormous "sum
might be advantageously expended" But |
will venture to say, that from the savings of one
year, canals, or railways, of more than two
tracks, might be made through every State in
the Union, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean.
Let us hear no more of hard times, failures,
heavy taxes, and heavy debts, while this intoler.
able habit is tolerated To preVent the evil, we
must look to the Cause. After you have examin-
ed your rum bill and your tobacco bill, look at the
butchers bill. Ay! that notorious catchpen-
ny, the meat cart, which always comes rumb-
ling and laundering up to your door, just at the
time when people are supposed TO be hungry
What temptation Good fresh beef, pork,
veal, mutton, poultry, ct eeterG, bones and all
cheap; and if you please, on credit But mind
We, there is hook in the bait: and when the
butchers bill is presented, you will feel its
point, beard and all.
1t is unnecessary. Let it not be urged, that
skilful physicians have advised to the use of it,
So they have prescribed arsenic-wnat then /.
Did they ever prescribe the use Of that poison
for life ? No man, in his senses, will venture to
duced vastly more diseases than it has ever
cured; and yet the greedy devourers of flesh
seem as insensible to the consequences, as the
confirmed drunkard is to his fate.
Neither flesh, nor fish, but bread is the staff
of life; and yet, what vast numbers Of innocent
animals are daily sacrificed to this alldevour-
ing Moloch!
When the order of nature is perverted, the
transgression is followed by its own punish
mont. If once we admit that the disposition of
the devourer partakes of the nature of the de-
voured, we shall arrive at the source of more
than half of the evils of life, and we shall no
lence of fsshy lusts, and brutal violence, or for
that kicking, hooking, biting, and devouring
propensity Of mankind, which has filled the
world with discord, confusion, and every evil
work.
But this is not all: look at the present puny,
pigmy race Of men, and what are they, when
compared with the men whom Homer dc.
scribes And what were his heroes, had they
been placed beside those who lived in the first
ages of the world, before mon had learned to
devour flesh--when there were giants in the
earth? But where now shall we find giant, or
even an Achilles, Hector, or an Ajax If,
then, mea continue to degenerate in size and
strength, as the same writer aflirms, we shall
soon have arace of Lilliputians; SO dminutive,
as to be in danger Of being devoured by cats,
and birds Of prey--a rotribution no less than
deserved by the greedy devourers of flesh.
When person is thoroughly confirmed in
this beastly habit, "tho nauseous effluvia Of his
breath is scarcely less to be dreaded than that"
of a crocodile and he NAV be Justly h0 comnar-