The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-22
CORRESPONDENCE.

" How glorious is this invention OF writing, where
by we can easily communicate to our absent friends
whatever may afford them pleasure or Improvement
EXTRACTS from Temperance address,
,Ohich ,coud hare been delipered By young
man. but from extreme ditidsnce.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have congregated
here this evening for the purpose of hearing
the principles of temperance advocated, and to
interchange our congratulations on Its onward
course; it is, my friends, holy theme to dwell
upos, there's an 1Eolian sound even in the ar
ticulation of the simple trsyllable--" Tempe
ralec"-a strict adherence 10 its express sgni-
6cation, creates love. friendship, and unalloy-
ed happiness it raises from the lowest depth
Of degradation, to the highest pinnacle of re-
spectability, renown, and usefulness; its pow
ers operate on the mental faculties as by ma
gic; it relieves the over burthen heart from sor-
row; and onscience-stricken remorse, land gives
contentment for the future.
But turn we now from earthly felicity, caus-
ed by the utility and glorious results attendant
on the enhancement of the temperance cause,
to that which harrows up the soul with lndlg-
nation and plying sorrows; we advert to that
pestlental scourge, which sweeps with Its
naughty strides, millions Of human beings from
our terrestrial sphere. Alcohol! Oh thou de-
ceitful, vengeful demon; accursed be the being
that gave the birth-thy track is wet with the
tears Of father, mothers, widows, brothers and
sisters-avaunt from the multitude of Gods
creation, and let peace and happiness once
more reign supreme
Now, my friends, let us draw parallel be-
tween temperance and lntemperanee, the one
reposing in the elysian of contented felicity,
the other in abject detestaon and degradation.
In imagination. observe yon manly form, as
twilight dims the earth, with cheerful and pla
cid countenance, and elastic steps, as he ap-
proaches his domestic domicil-we follow him
until he enters his home; there he is met by
beams of smiling welcome by his true and low
frugal, but wholesome evenings meal is al
ready prepared; every thing indicates neatness
and order-there, in the cradle, lies their first
born infant, with outstretched arms waiting
to receive the expected embrace and kiss Of its
too happy father; could it be conceived for
moment, that that man had imbibed any Of
his happiness from the seductive arts Of the
arch fend Alcohol No, we instantly answer;
| he is temperance man; there reigns domestic
felicity and happiness,whlch, heaven forfend,
may never cease.
| But, alas turn we now our gaze and
thoughts to another, but entirely different scene.
See yon poor miserable wretch, reeling TO and
fro, as if the earth was gliding from under his
feet, and placing them where he least intended;
his eyes forced out. seemingly TO resemble two
bright stars in our armament; his face so
swollen, that he no longer appears like
man. Oh! what sad spectacle to look
and reflect upon. See the boys following IN
his wake, raising up shouts of derision,
crying out, there goes old Dan, the drunkard
He at length reaches agloomy dilapidated hut,
which he denominates his home; he enters, and
there, seated around few faint glimmering
embers, is his heart broken wife, and his al
most clothless and famished children, calling
on their mother for bread but, alas she had 1t
not, nor had there been for the day previous
the brutal husband and father, with awful i'm
precautions, loudly calls for his supper And
when informed, by his timd wife, that there
was nought in the house, then King Alcohol
asserts his supremacy, and IN the form of
husband, fells the unressting mother to the
floor, but we close the scene. Well may we
exclaim, with the immortal Bard of " Avon"
" Look upon this picture, and then upon that
no more alike than Hyperion to Satyr."
~