Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-03-04
From the liinois Temperance Herald.
TME . RU y r a n DIS q AVE.

DANIEL YRxDcOTT began lite, AZ many OF new /
Regland's fsvovite sons and brightest ornaments
have done, ~ country scbooi-master. The small
savings, CLEANED during three years Of il-requted
Iabos, enabled him 10 pursue his legal studies in the
once Of respectable lawyer in Worcester county.
Mas. To these studies the energies Of IN active
was labor fsuisiess. For when, at the age Of %,
Daniel Prescott made lis "maiden Speech" the \
vesevuble Judge did not hesitate 10 pro- i
nousce il tho best effort he had heard. A /
pleasing exienos, rich fulltoned voice, graceful
carriage. IN animated and very expressive counte- |
nance, Ill marked Prescott for orator. Nor were !
the intellectual qualifications wanting. His pre-
ceptions were quick, his judgment cleas, his men, |
DRY petcntve, his taste pure, and perfect command
Of elegant and expressive language, enabled him to
avail himself readily Of all his Other sdvantsges.-
To these qualifications for the higher walks Of his
protection, Prescott added others, not less neces-
saTy 10 success. He was hard student, and an
attentive and correct man Of business. Such mani
was not made to remain ciliage laryer. In less
than two years, he removed 10 Of the larger
beSs Of the bar in his native state The world went
psospesously with him. lie married, little family
grew up around him, and Daniel Prescott was
hsppy man-happy in the esteem Of his profess
iona! brethren; happy in the respect and good will
Of nesehbors and TOW nsmen; happy in the conf
doncc Of large circle If clients; and above all.
and better thsn ALL he was happy in the affections Of
devoted wife, ard the love Of four promising chill
drcn. Time passed on. Mr.. Prescott had so grad
"alIy end SO surely won his way to tho first place
in the good opinion Of his fellow citizens that Len
MI. Brown, their representative in Congress, de.
clined reelection, Prescott, (almost matter 81
cousse) was chosen 10 6ll the place. Nor did he
hesitate to accept the honor. 1tuc hc must ne.
gloct some Of his business, he must for many
months be absent from his famiiy, but Daniel PIES.
colt not without ambition, and lIc lad fv anne
timc lo0gcd fos wider field, In which 10 display
hss powsss, than was offered BY tho Courts Of biz
native State. Arrived 1t Washington, hs found
that bis reputation had proceeded him, and tho lead
cf BIZ c'Hnisy, - mn ablo coadjntos IN their pa,r
otte labor. prominent place, NJ tho hoad IL IN,
Of tho Important committees, was assigned him
and when, or tho first time, he addressed the House
The highest expectations were moro than realized
and tho united voice " fill House, and c,owte,
gallery pronounced Daniel Prescot an orator. 4
brilliant career now opened before him. Ills socI
oily was much sought AfteF, and although he devu
ID much u bic time TO his duties N tho House
YET many o. hour was pleasantly. o. At least gail!
spent 10 The festivities Of The capitol. Thos, y b.
were familiar with the state Of society IN Wash
tagton twenty years ago. need not DO told Tim,
IVES . strong hold Of intempevancc. liza mcmbe
called another, the FIRST question was, what vii
you dsiDkr u they went out oflle house tOgeth
o., invitation 10 the bar, Cor little gin or bran
dy aud water, was q matter Of course. Then q
night, ha committee met ut the room Of any men
Der, 10 would have been deemed niggard who Iii
NOT ODER, and DO churl who should refuse, tl.e &c
cisl glass. All this was new to Prescott. Th
use Of ardent spirits had never been q habit wit
him, though he took, as every body then did, hi
glass now end then. Al Washington, as hay
said. the invitations 10 drink were constantly :,
pcated--mornng, noon, pight.--and this, too, b
men o: the highest public character. Could Pre-.
colt refuse these invitaions! Refuse on principle
And why should he do 80? Was he to be made
DauNKAnD by an occasional glass Of brandy or GIN
HE-shc wise, tho prudent, The learned -bec0c,
sOtf Ridiculous! The idea never occurred I
him, and it had, he would have laughed it ,
ecorn.
Thus the session pissed awav-evcry day ado
ing something to the well earned fame Of DAM,
Prescott, and. alas! every day marking bis onwar
Psogrese down that steep decvity, the habit Of ten
Perate drinking. Tho session ended Dam,
Prescott. with . glad heart, turned his face HON,
wasd'-His JOY, at aga.n uniting h,mself 10 Vi
loved domestic circle, was sincere and ardent VI
Ne Very 6rsl time he sat a The head of his o.
table, - hand was upon the brandy bottle .
have aecustoEed myself to take little Brandy m
water with my dinner at W.shinet and Thin
established as his own freside, was never b,oke,
The summer passed away. Winter came. an
again Daniel Prescott found himsclfin Washino,o,
The Sane round VI drinking was resumed, but in
Tar different spirit. Before, brandy was only take
from regard TO custom, love Of sobrie,y, want Z
snot. Nov 1t was taken, "a the lovc Of it. NJ
that be wac become drunkard-oh no but If b
sisieed tficnd in the morning, g. be vas not aske
iodnnk, be missed Il. IT, dssiax any evening D,bu
with 9 committee. the brandy was forgoticn BY Ii
host, Prescott was uneasy, and often made som
alluson or gave hunt, 10 Insure the accussou,e
Qualification. Very so0n it, Stimulating effect
6sczme necessary TO him. He could not rai,a Il
sdSseU the house With confidence, anleas GAS
Ofpsssdy had 6stifcd hi. n-rre,. Skill j, was no