The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-08-02
THE COGNIAC CLUB

culated, or extensively read in this Stale.
THE COGNIAC CLUB
/ There was formed in neighboring state
thirty or forty years since, a social club, that
took to itself the name which stands al the
! head of this article. Owing to the TEN.
perance Reformation, and o:her causes, it
long since found grave, but while it lived,
il was the curse OF families and fruitful
source of the tears OF broken hearted moth
ers and widowed wives, where the tender
sensibiliries of the softer sex had not been
DESTROYED by Rum. the monster of the age.
/ The Club in its early history is
believed TO have been somewhat political,
but it accumulated in itself at length the
whole mass ofthe drinking, and gambling,
and sporting male community, whatever
might be their views in politics.
Rum was their standard in every thing.
/ lie that would drink the largest quantity Of
Cogniac was the finest fellow; he that could
best pitch the Bacchanalian song was their
favorie, and he that could blaspheme most
impiously, wore in their depraved estima-
ton, the aurcls of the bravo.
1t was not from families depressed with
poverty or sunk in vice that came the men,
bers OF the Club, but from the most wealthy,
honored and respectable OF the region, a
circumstance which in that dark period OF
our history lent an additional incentive
(where surely none was needed) 10 vice
which had almos, driven forever away the
weeping and lovely form Of virtue.
i Twill now give you short account Of
the members of the Cogniac Club.
A., was one ofthe elder sons OF We.
~ reputable family. An education was
avished upon him, and he followed the pro.
fession ofih law. His talents were more
than ordinary, and he coul with perfect ease
have risen and shone. He had noble
chance to be elevated, useful, and happy;
had good farm, good name, good bust
ness, a lucrative Office, and what was better
than all noble wife 10 throw around his
character her protecting influence. Blu
the Club sunk him down from his elevated
station into bar-room story teller, lost hin
his office aud his character, his mind and
MS business, and brought him carly TO {
drunkard's grave. Perhaps never was {
wife more faithful, or bore heavier burden
while she nursed him and watched him,
superannuated baby in quite early life. The
early loss of his mind prevented the entire
squaDdering of his estate. He had enough
to The last of this ,corld's goods and to spare
but was sadly provided for. for the future
He lived for many years a sour and unhap
Ply man, and probably had no warning o
his end. till he appeared before the Judge o
the quick and the dead.
! B.. near relative Of A., wa
once man of talents and received higl
share of respect. His business was former
: ly very prosperous. He has pious wifi
and fine family, and might live yet scor
of years upon his little farm had not tn
Cogniac Club left his soul tainted. and hi
/ passions strong, and his temper irritable
and his fortune wasting away, and his fam
A lily unhappy, and his future destiny not YER
: improbable. But my prayers shall be tina
theLord may even yet have mercy upon hi
soul, and le, him live 10 be comfort and
blessing to bis family.
;, c., man of fine talents and f1aiterinI
prospects, was literally educated aud bre
= a lawyer He bid fair 10 become the frs
Y man 10 the stale. But alas he too entere
, the Cogniac Club, the grand aceldama
corruption and vice; the vortex INTO who's
greedy abyss sunk forever much of the tai
ent, wealth and responsibility of who!
r town. He became habitually inemperat
S and sIockingly profaue-speni his days II
F.. drinking and his nights in gambling. u
: Joined himself with companion OF Ike
stamp with himself, and riOted on his way
the grave. So intense was his Proiiigac
that his godly father could not see him
his dying moments, because ne would no
5 hear his plasphemies. Tae two ASSOCIATE
S left each son in their own likeness on
is lost and The other is hopefully reforming
The two fathers found each drunkard
: grave. Associates in life. they were nc
|, divided in death. Fellows in SIN, they ar
/ doubtless companions in misery.
THE TARIFF.-There is some grumbln
, here and there with regard to particular item