Litchfield enquirer., 1849-08-02
From the Ntw York Observer.
Cholera and SabbathaRreaking in
Cincinnati,
CINCINNATI, July 7, 1e4o.

CINCINNATI, July T. 1S49.
The Cincinnati correspondent Of ar
Eastern paper recently wrote as follows
GA German glee club, consisting O
about two hundred male Germans, most
ly Catholics, perform regular concert.
here on the Sabbath. They 60 out o
the city by steamboat, to place called
Baldhill. next Sunday, where in the Ian
guage of one Of their abettors, they will
sing and enjoy themselves in Gods free
nature How they will enjoy themselves
or what they understand by Gods free
nature, is beyond my comprehension
The devil himself could not wish better
corps of servants for his own use than
this same body of men, and he will, be-
yond all question, be in their midst the
live-long day"
The Baldhill celebration was attended
by some eight hundred Germans, who
enjoyed Goods free nature" by desecra-
ting the Sabbath, with music and revels,
and feasting, and in the course Of the day
drank large quantities Of our native sour
wine in its fermenting state, and also beer
and liquors of various sorts, and with all
the vegetable accompaniment of which
the Germans are so fond.
Up to this period the cholera had fall
en- lightly upon the city there had been
only some ter or fifteen deaths per day,
a number hardly to be noticed in so large
a city, with so many wayfa1ing men hang
ing about us in idleness and dissipation at
this season Of the yea.
The day after this Sunday celebration,
some 10 or Is of the participators died
Of cholera; and from that day to the pre-
sent awful increase, the plague has been
upon us in all its malignity. The Ger
man population, some $4,000, have felt
it in its greatest force. Whole families,
and indeed, in some cases, whole streets
have been depopulated, and fear that
very few who desecrated Gods holy day
on Baidhill are now in the land of the IL
wing. This hill is some miles from the
city, and out of its jurisdiction. On and
about it the vine is extensively cultivated
and the cultivatols are mostly Germans.
There are very many intelligent Germans
among us, but the great body are very
ignorant. Coming from all the depriva-
tons of the old country, and enjoying the
largest liberty here, which to them means
to eat and drink. and live as they please;
and indulging in all the crude vegetables
and fruits, Of which this season is uncom
monty prolific; and which are uncom-
monty cheap, in consequence Of all intel
ligent persons abstaining from them
these poor Germans die daily by scores.
AS far as I have observed land with my
family, wife and children, have remain
ed and shall remain through the course
of the epidemic even with, the plague at
its greatest intensity, without any, or
hardly any premonitory symptoms, and
with the disease running its course in
from two to twelve hours, have found
that those who acted with prudence, ate
plenty of plain food, very few vegetables,
drank no spirituous liquors except when
prescribed by the doctors. kept good
hours. attended to their duties daily, who
have kept cool. and, above all, have kept
themselves and families clean by frequent
washing, in tepid. not cold water, have
so far escaped, or, if attacked, were soon
relieved.
It's reckless living, crowded tenements
filthy cellars, untitled holes, which feed
the cholera. Green vegetables, sour
crout, and strong beer. which the Ger
mans indulge in, and which no reasoning
can change, is almost certain death.
A young lady, daughter Of a German
preacher, told me yesterday Of one in
stance, to illustrate how besotted they
are in their notions. 1t was that of a
son lying in the bed with cholera. and
the mother making for him beer soup, a
hot mixture Of strong beer and eggs
Death of course soon followed this. But
our physicians say it is nearly impossible
to make them change their notions. and
so the mortality goes on. and will stop
when God in his mercy shall determine.