Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-05-11
VERMONT PHOENIX.
Brattlebero, Friday, May ii, lS4e.
Editorial Correspondence.

Another long and tedious storm commenced
on Saturday, and has continued without inter
mission. II was preceded by weather as Gckle
and changcable as the favors Of the most heart
less coquctte. Nights OF intense heat, succeeded
by winiry blast; one day under cloaks, and
shiyering with cold, and the mex, uncomfortably
warm, with tho lightest summer dress. But
neither tho heat or cold, or dust or Storm inter
rupt the morning flow aud evening ebb Of the
tide Of human beings through Broadway. There
is food for the curious and for the moralist in
watching the never ceasins current through this
great thorougharc. All day long. and all night
too, for that mltter, the street is ,hrongcd with
men and women hurrying along, intent upon
some object Of business or pleasure. There is,
to a stranger, feeling Of Loneliness and sadnes,
in looking out upon this grca, multitude Of hu-
man beings, and feeling that not one among
them has the lcas, regard or care for you, and
that IL sickness or death should oyertakc you,
no, one Of them would turn aside to minister
unto you, or know or care for your fate.
II, standing aloof, rs nm Indifferent spectator,
one could look into the bosoms Of the mass who
pass along, aud perceive the feelings, motives
aud objects Of each individual, what diversified
picture in human life would be discover. The
miser to add to hi. wealth, the poor to avoid
starvation, the spcudthrif to buy pleasure, the
homeless aud destitute to find a refuge, the fash
ionablc woman to see and DO seen, and the rag
gcd one TO beg or steal-thcse, aud all other
conceivable variations Of character, objects and
conditions, jostle each other in the crowd, but
all Of them have one thing in common. Not one
Of them Is 10 possession Of what he wants to com
Pleie bis Happiness, bat the happiness Of each
one consists. not in what he has, bot in the hope
Of attaining something that is beyond. Though
many, and perhaps most Of them, have secured
hat which they once looked forward to as the
darling object Of life, yet the happiness ,hey an
iicpaiej is no, found IN Il, but Is seen in some.
thing still far before them. So that, ahsr all
the happiness Of life, as to worldly Offsets con.
sis,s more in our hopes, than in the realization
Of them.
met yesterday. in broadway, young man
who came to this city eight years ago FROM The
country, for the practice Of Law. lie was 4
young man Of fne talents, and bid fair 10 win
for himself wealth and reputation. had ios
sight Of him for two or three years, and when
met him yesterday, be was staggering alons
Broadway 20 drunk he could scarcely keep hi
feet. hardly knew him--he was 50 bloatet
and bloiehcd with liquor, and 50 shabby dress
ed. lie told me he was about going back to sh,
country, where be came from, and thai his fam
lily had already gone. remember his wife,
bride. the ornament and charm Of the society Il
which she moved, brought up in aiiiusnee an,
luxury, and seeing nothing in the future bu
love and happiness with the husband Of he
choice. But alasi for her fond hopes Th,
demon Of in,cmperance has blighied them all
Ia few years, i has changed the aifections,
and happy husband into a drunken sot, whom 81,
VIII nasi c.tl-, grave strfpt nm
Of his property and character, aud driven he
forth. heari-broken, TO seek charitable shelte
among her friends
This is the every day result of in,emperancc
and yet, some ladies' wonder what lhey have /,
do with Temperance Societies. The fate o
many among my own early school associates fur
nishes an emphatic warning Of the dangers tina
lurk in moderate drinking. Three Of them, a
least. have gone in early manhood to drunk
ards grave in this city. They were all mem
bers Of the legal profession, and Of more thar
ordinary talents One Of them was for tim,
member Of the Legislature Of this State, and al
Of them engaged in successful and lucrative prae
tee. When in school. and during the Garlic.
part Of their professional life, they would hav,
ridiculed and resented the idea that their occa
sional social glass would ever make them drunk
ards, as much as your moderate drinkers do now
a-days, and like them, they doubtless looked dowl
with pity and contempt upon the poor drunk
ards in the street. What IL some seer had whis
pered in their ears, You shall one day be lik,
the drunken wretch whom you now loathe amt
despise"-wi,h what defiant emotions would the,
have regarded him
have no other feeling for the drunkard thar
COMMUNICATION. He Is as much an object Of pity
and should be as much an object of public guard
ianshp, rs a lunaiic.