The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-07-29

allow it q fair and full trial.
The lachrymose wailings Of our friend,
the Post, is truly pitiful.
The Temperance Adrocate, of Provi-
dence, in speaking Of the 7" demijohn
mania," says:-
From this class of Indifferent people,
who are known as temperance men or
practical teetotallers, but not as ever
having manifested much interest in the
temperance cause, the fever extended to
another class, and one of which we had
hoped better things. Scores of those
who had been known as temperance peO-
ple-who had contributed of their sub
stance and devoted their labors to the
cause-who had toiled and preached
and prayed for the triumph of temper
ance-and some of whom had voted with
direct reference to the overflow of the
rum traf6c-became wild with the ex-
element of the hour, and added their
demijohns to the hundreds which, like so
many cofined mummies, were paraded
in the shops of the dealers in death.
When the excitement had died away
somewhat, it was much easier to find
under what impression these professed
temperance men had stepped from the
usual path. They had imagined it would
be almost impossible for them to obtain
a drop of liquor after the 18th, even for
medicinal and mechanical purposes, or
that they would have improper motives
attributed to them, if they should visit
the city agency on any errand, however
honorable and proper With this i'm
preston fixed strongly in their minds
and in very many instances strengthened
by the belief that they could only pro-
cure liquors alter the 10th by first pro-
curing the certificate Of physician
they found it very easy to get into the
whirlpool Of excitement, and to do what.
in their calmer moments and under diff
ferent impressions, they could not have
failed to condemn.
Of one fact, all who witnessed the
strong array Of demU' U'hns must have be-
come convinced. 1t is that nobody ex-
pected the law would be either resisted
nor evaded. The wine and b andy drink
ers would not have been as eager to lay
in supply, il they had believed that the
law would not be enforced. The, look
ed upon the law, evidently, as fixed
fact, and deemed it prudent to have on
hand what the law said they could not
purchase.
The Prorrience Journal Of Monday
tells US that quantity of liquor was
seized and destroyed on Friday and Sat-
urday of last week, and adds the follow
ing testimony in regard to the good
effects of the law and the probability Of
its being executed:-
We judge that the law is pretty gen.
orally enforced. OF course, in SO large
a city as Providence, with so very thirsty
a population, there will be considerable
violation in secret. But there is nc
open tippling shops. What impression
has been made upon that prudent pro-
vision of demijohns, so generously made
by all classes Of the community, We dc
not know.
Several tavern keepers have deter.
mined to close their houses, not being
able to keep open without the sale o
liquor; and some other branches o
business will suffer, for the ratification
of the liquor trade are very extensive.
The city has been very quiet during
the week. The police say that the mum
Der of arrests for drunknness, and the of:
fences growing out of drunknness, arc
much less than usual.
The sales of the city agency are a. ou
$75 day, great part being of alcohol
for jewellers and other mechanical pur,
poses.
In other parts of the State there ha:
been very little or no excitement, ano
the reports from Providence and New
port show that there is an evident cool
ing off since they begin to "get tht
hang" of the new law.
!, The friends of Temperance and th'
Maine Law had large and enthusiastic
meeting in Woonsocket, on the 10th
. tn commemorate the advent of the Main,
Law in Rhode Island. An address wa
4 delivered on the occasion BY DR.. Jewett
after which the company partook of
supper, listened to speeches, toasts