The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-03
The Drinking clubs or the city.


pare.
The Drinking Clubs or the city.
We hear great deal in our day about the pro-
gress of temperance And, happily, there is great
deal of truth in what we hear No one can doubt
that within the last few years mighty moral revo-
luton has been effected in our land. Its blessed
fruits are universally apparent. Thousands OF
drunkards have been reclaimed-tens OF thousands
have been preserved from the fatal alluremens OF
the wine cup-and every where, In city, Town. ana
hamlet stand open the doors OF temperance socie-
ties that with solicitations, continual ana ehcour
aging as those of the infinite beneilcence ITSELF
whose fundamentally they are, invite the s'r"e-
cling victim of the Destroyer, and all who may De-
com. hi. ,rev. 10 their safe sanctuary OF refuge,
security and repose. Only TO Omnisclence skhowh
the full amount of blessing which this reformation
ba. brought 10 this land Who can tell how many
1t has saved from going down by the sides OF the
inflow many devoted homes it has caused to re-
echo again to the voice of JOY and gladness-how
many of the most gifted minds has restored to rea-
son and socety-how many sad calamitles to lndlVi-
duals families and communities it has arrested-how
many seeds it has scattered far and wide, which
will ripen one day to a great harvest Of happiness
and glory
But alas! how much is there yet to be done
how deeply fixed and rooted yet remain those sociai
usages whose end is disgrace, despair and ruin
what wreck of fortune, fame and lie is slli every
dav strewed all around us-how much is there pre-
sented ON all hands to slcken and appai the friend
cf ,emperance. and cause him with dropping head
to exclaim-" All we have done is as nothlng-as
but drop in the bucket" We adverted the other
day, to solitary but most sad instance OF the rava'
ges Of this terrible destroyer of human happiness
and life, as one which presented an opportunity Tor
reproof and warning, which 1t were not well to al
low to pass unimproved 1t exhibited In great and
glaring characters the melancholy lesson OF man
Of talent and eminence suddenly struck down IN the
midst of his days, leaving numerous family IN
circumstances calculated TO awaken the profound
est sympathy and all in consequence OF his Ill
fated connexion with one of these peculiarly seduc
tive and dangerous institutions OF intemperance, to
which we would on this holy Sabbath day, briefly
alude for the purpose of offering few we-intend'
ed words Of exposure, remonstrance, and ADVICE
We refer to the drinking clubs Of the city OF New
York.
All over the city you find these little associations
of ten or dozen individuals. They are OF all de-
grees of respe ctability-as the phrase goes-from
the choice recherche club of bon rirants, with q
Judge at their head, who not on champagne,
suppers at Clarke and Browns, to the nest of small
store keepers and tradesmen who celebrate their
orgies amid the tunes OF Bowery cellar. Meet
one of these men about noon, and you at once recog
Mise the characteristic expression which marks them
all The dull, sufused eye-ihe bloaied check
the ouvering lip-al the signals Of distress which
abused nature has been in vain holding out tor the
last five wears, are there. Follow him, and you
see HIM drop into that nice, quiet, retired, innocent
looking confectioner's store, and well supplied with
choicest liquors; or into that elegant refreshmenl
saloon, where the highly seasoned morsel provokes
the good stomach into acceptance OF the meridian
"bt,ers" Here he meets half dozen or more OF
the sharers of last nights debauch-wlth some
thing of an affected pleasantly, they advert TO IT.,
and repeat the unnecessary assurance OF being at
the sold place" that night again. Sometimes the
"club' meets in the back room of some Of the bet
ter order of Observation-Disclosures in quiet apart
ment in one of the less frequented hotes-and
sometimes in the cellar Of wholesale dealer IN
wines and liquors. We have heard of one of this
latter description, which is II seems, quite cee'
brated and distinguished affair, embracing amongst
its numbers some of our best known lawyers and a
few of our Judges. A snug apartment in The wine
cellar was handsomely fitted up for them and here
night after night, they assembled, quafied the
maddening bowl, laughed at the world, moutheo
the heavens IN their basphemous talk, and wrought
out to the full the demoniac work Of killing the
soul and bodies of each other.
This very night this "club" will meet This ar
ticle will be talked of--derided-abused-cur
All, take care-take care Well has the wise maj
said-"though sinners join hand in hand, yet will
ab.J beeI
warning, solemn and startling enough, already'-
And will you not be warned? Would that our ad
monition could re ach the ears of every man who be
longs to each and all of these drinking clubs, ant
keep ringing there like the words of doom. Save
yourselves, we would cry aloud unto them. ~
warned in time. Escape now while you may
those serpent folds, which are so rapidly closing II
that fatal embrace which will never relax TIL 1t en-
folds the crushed bones Of its victims.
Tia PLArNFIELp BANK.-We have accounts iron
Trenton to the effect thai resolution has passed
the Legislature of New Jersey, authorizing the
Governor TO select committee OF three persons
TO proceed to Plainfeld, and examine into the al
fairs of that bank, and report forthwith. In the
meantime, the public should beware, and handle
not any doubtful promises to pay. We have plenty
OF good money for all purposes, and, therefore
there is no use Of meddling with bad. Remembe'
the Jacksonville bank blew up, and be wary
joins L. GRAHAM's LerrsR.-We perceive that
this gentleman has published his card, explaining
his connexion with the North American Trust ant
Banking Company, as counsel We shall read IT.
and then give it publicity, if it is worthy OF such
notice
EXAMINATION OF boTrsFoRp. -Samuei Bottsford
who arrested several DAYS since with George
Gage, discharged and re-arrested again, on susri
cion OF having been concerned in the robbery oil
the Treasury notes at Van Buren,, Arkansas, was
examined yesterday before the United States Mar.
shall, and fully committed IN default Of bail in the
sum Of $4,000.
MAILS FOR EUROPE. The steamship Hiberuia
Csptaii Judkins, lett Boston on Friday, for Liver
poofS She carried out 80 passengers The MALL