The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-12-30

IA
81 i,e see them SO strangely out OF their place.
ButbIindness has happened 10 them in part.
So there are others who find it a wholly con-
GENIAL calling. AS there is in nature no rot
1enness. so loathsome that it does not furnish
the most attractive condition for some grOveii-
ing form of animal life; 90 there are men VINO
find this trade of corrupting their fellows,
with all the moral and physical nth tlal
gather around the dram-shop, just iheir con,
genial work. And The wonder Is tIat all
but such do not insiinctively revolt from SUCH
abusIness. and leave it wholly IN the hands
of those whose eff it is 10 relish work so
mischeiyous and vile. But while there Is
this difference in The men, their work Is one
perhaps even worse, if you weigh The
whole influence Of his doings. when done
by the very respectable man who lends him
seIf TO this strange work, than when done by
those whose vocation il is 10 do evil. IL Is
OUTS TO put an end 10 such work, by whom
soever il may be done.
But as | shall have occasion to allude 10
character, wish TO define what | mean by
a Rumseller. | would not bring a railing
accusation against any--and we are
commanded not 10 speak evil Of dignitarieS
TheRnmseler,t then, youlook deeply INTO the
essence and very nature of the thing, is no;
simply one who sells rum, but a man selling
for gain to his fellow men what he knows
10 be worthless and pernicious-an ar
ticle which ne knows to be good for none,
dangerous to all, deadly TO many. He
whom | denounce, is the vender who
knows what he's about-who has looked
in the face the sure consequences of his
doings, and if he can but make gain of
it, is prepared to corrupt the souls, EN-
bitter the lives, and blast the prosperity,
of all indefinite number ofhis fellow crea-
lures. By The vending of these drinks,
he sees that with terrible certainty, along
with the havoc ofthe health, lives, homes,
and souls of men, and an amount of
sorrow and desolation that is perfectly
appalling, he can succeed in setting a.
float certain vast amount of property,
aud that as it is thrown TO the winds, some
small share of it will probably float with
IN his grasp. Upon that chance he acts
He knows, if men remain virtuous and
thrifty, ifthese homes about him contin
ue peaceful and joyous, his craft cannot
prosper. But ii the virus, wherewith !
he inoculates the community, can only
DC W hOih, OWN " III
come oft, and every pang will bring him
pei, each broken heart will stand him in so
much cash-so much net gain from
each blasted and shame-stricken family
so much wdow-so much an orphan |
lie docs not expect, like the sad villain
cfa thief, IL win all that he causes others
IL lose SO far from that, lie is perfectly |
aware that Only a meagre percentage will, |
III the wild wreck. ever fad its way into |
his hands. Yet fer this he sets it all a
float. Like his is the deed of the incen- |
diary, who fires city, that he may plfer, !
III the crowd. Or We may find a more
adequate Illustration in what we are told
of certain wild shores, infested by organ
lied bands Of Wcckers, whose business
1t is to watch along their dangerous coasts,
and seize whatever may float within
iheIr reach from the vessels that are
wrecked on the ncighboring shoals To |
increase their chance of such accursed |
spoil. they set themselves Systematically
at work to bring about as many ship
wrecks as pnssible-false signals are Civ
en- beacons quenched-movable lights |
devised, and every means employed to
decay ali III the offing upon The fatal
shore. Figure that sccHe more CLOSELY
Night and storm are en- the deep, and
the tempest howls along the fatal
reef; when through the darkness, faint !
IL heard above the roar of the surge,
comes the boom of distant signal gun,
announcing vessel in distress! A mo
meut more and ii comes again and more
distinct-it drawing near--it is ar-
preaching this scene of rapine and death
Eonder, al length. It's light irembles 10 the
eye as some billsr losses it above the hori-
Zon Listen-It is the wai of despair, now |
borne on the aching ear! And here on the |
beach are voices heard and torches uIanr- |
ing. but not in pity or for help; and on the |
elf above burns the false beacon that lured |
The victim on the rocks A moment more
and she strikes, and Tor an instant while the
Storm iulls, rs if relrntine al It's cruel work
you hear lle shricks sfIhc LOST. the cry OF the
spent swimmer. and the crash of The vessel.
rs she spills ncf treasures and dives into the
Jaws o! The deep. Aud there is icy an that
shore Their work has prospered. A llle
hHais 10 their i,auds-hnt ah how little of
all that precious cargo Yet thai is their
reward. For this they lured so much 10
desiruclioni Now We might safely trust il
10 vote among the damned, syli;rt we are 10
Link OF such work as ikat. And the very
brother OF il is here among US. this trade in
thinks Th,rc is a circumJaniial horror
drown ar9lnd lie one. While the other
works more quietly. under cover, and by
Pircemeai; hut in fins essential feature. they
land side by si!e-thev each >rrate 4 VAST.
Indefinite amount Of wn and damage to OH.
era that ont Of The terrible wreck. they may
iay hold ola lille gain. And If one deserves
q License, give The other one too
- d. hITCnEL's, ADDRESS IN CoNyrcrIcrr