The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-04
THE CRY FATHERS AND FATHER MATHEW =

HE CITY FATHERS AND FATHER MATHEW.
We understand that the highly respectable gentle
men composing the two boards of the city council.
are in rather perplexing predicament sat this pre-
sent wn ing, and do not know how to escape from
it, fwhat we have heard is true, their sutIeringsare
indeed intolersble; and the agony of mind and
body which affects them, such as would melt
heart of steae.
From time immeniorial, it has been customary
whenever distinguished stranger visited the city
to show him every mark of distinction, and the
courtesy has been extended to all the statesmen,
military heroes, presidents, poets, and authors,
who have distinguished the msclves In their pecu-
liar Observation-Disclosures by killing few thousand
of their fellow beings on the field of battle, or, as
in the case Of Father Mathew, by saving million
by Kidding them of the dominion of intemperance.
TO depart from the precedent in this case to omit
taking Father Mathew to see the institutions, TO
fail to nduct HIM INTO the mysteries of the Tombs,
or the penitentary on Blackwell's Island, or to
parade before him the numerous progeny Of the
city fathers on the Long Island Farms, would, in
deed, be an objectionable breach OF etiquette, such
as we are sure they would not commit But what
are they TO do? Those occasions have invariably
been characterized by liberal drinking of the
choicest wines; Otard, Amoutilado, sherry, and
champagne, being guZzled in real adermanic
STYLE and in such prousion as to be caution to all
temperance men, to say nothing Of tetoiallers
But Father Mathew cschews the vine in every form
and variety he drinks nothing but cold water, sea-
soned with little ice, and this is species OF
hGuer to which aldermen are proverbial for having
no patiaity; the greater part Of them, general
thing, being perfect strangers 10 either the or
smell OF II. They cannot, certainly, indulge in
their favorite beverage before their guest; and on
the other hand, they cannot drink cold water. Sc
veral caucus meetings have already taken place, at
which this very important subject was discussed
but yet means of cutting the gordian knot
have been discovered, and the aldermen are in very
low spirits in consequence
Now, let us what is to be done in this crisis
to relieve the worthy city fathers from the unpre.
cedented and very unpleasant predcament which
has overwhelmed them with distress. Cannot
each member fortify himself with private bottle
There are great many objects connected with
our institutions, which will likely engage the at
tenton Of the worthy father, and while he is
datDg on the beauty of the architecture of the
Tombs, or coIapllmenting the city fathers on the
Iuddiness of the city children on the farms, can
not the members slip their bottles from their
pockets, and take private drink behind his bacl,
or cant they have coy draught of an,i-chol.ra
while the worthy apostle praises our Croton aque-
duct, and compares it TO the celebrated vaducts of
ancient Rome! We throw on, those hints to the
city fathers, and hope they will look upon them
as worthy Of some consideration. II will please
us very much if we can be the means of assisting
them in their present calamity