Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-21
Gbuirr Titrrufurf.
A THRILLING SCENE,
BY e. c. DELAvAN.

By E, G. DELAvAN.
Permit me to sketch TO you a scene
related to me BY an. eye witness, which
occurred in Connecticut while the people
in one Of the towns in that State were
gathered, TO discuss the merits of the
question Of license, whether one neigh
Dor should longer be permitted under the
sanction Of law, to destroy another, and
bring pauperism, crime and every de-
scription Of misery on the neighborhood
This town had suffered greatly from
the sale and use of intoxicating drinks. |
The leading influences were against the
total abstinence doctrine. At the meet
ing the Clergymen and Physicians oil
the town, as also leading Deacon in
one of the churches, were in favor oil
continuing license, for permitting few
men Of good moral character 10 sell, for
they all agreed in the opinion that The
moderate use was not injurious; that IN
toxicating liquor was good creature OF
God, and to hamper its sale TO be used in
moderation was an unjust restraint on
human liberty, and reflection on the be-,
nevolence Of the Almighty. With such
powerful advocates in favor Of the old
custom, the feeling of the meeting ap.
peared TO be all one way, when a gentle
man, who was present from another State
by accident, but who had been former
resident Of the town, begged leave 10
differ from the highly influential and res
pectable individuals, who bad spoken on
the subject. He entered into history
IF % II. Al
he called the attention Of the assembly
TO the desolation the trafic.and moderate
= -Sfrinhiugs haes bseegttgsppa. -fqa.. ysd
individnals5 he pointed to. the Poor
House, the prison house aud the grave
yard for the numerous victims of the
traffic he urged with much eloquence
that in mercy the food gates might be
shut down and prevent, as far as posi-.
bic, the continued desolation ol families
bv sustaining the immoral business oil
Rum Selling. But all would not do:-
The influence of the Clergyman, the Doc
tor and Deacon was too much for him
No one followed on his side, and the
chairman Of the meeting was about tc
put the question, when all at once there
arose from a distant corner of the room
a miserable clad and miserable lookins
female; her appearance indicated the
utmost wretchedness, and that her earth
ly career had almost closed. After ;
moments silence, and all eyes beins
fixed on her, she stretched her attenua
ted body 10 lis utmost limit, and her lon!
shrivelled arms to their greatest length
and then raising her voice 10 high AM
shrill pitch, she called upon all 10 LooE
UPON HER. Yes, said she, look upol
me- and then hear me. All that the las
speaker has said with regard TO moderate
drinking-as being the author of al
drunkards, is true-al that he has saic
with regard 10 the immortality of the raf
ic is also true. Now look upon me a.
an illustration. You all know me, O
you once did. You all know [ was ono,
the mistress Of .he best farm of this town
You all know, too, / once had one of tb,
best-one Of the kindest-and one of th,
most devoted Of husbands. Yod know
too, had fine, noble-hearted, industriou
boys, the pride of my life. Where ar
they no,Oy Minister Of Christ. Deaco
OF the Church, Physician of the body
Ichere are they RoU You all know. Yo
all know, they are buried side bv side ;
yonder church yard--all, every one {
them filling the .drunkard's grave! The
were all taught to believe that moderat
drinking was innocent, erceSS only to b
avoided-and while they lived the
would never admit that they drank
excess. They quoted you, and uou, an
yoa-polnting with the shred of finge
to the priest, deacon and doctor. as be
ter authority than mine. They tbouoi
themselves safe under your practic,
teaching. / saw the gradual chano
coming over my family and prospects
with dismay and borrow; 1 saw that "
were all to be overwhelmed.in one com
mon ruin. ! begged, | praved, | ag(
nlzed to ward off the blow; / tried
break the spell-the delusive spell wit
which moderate drinking had involve
my loved ones---but the odds were orea
ly against me-the tyrant appetite ha
been formed-the Minister of God sai
that the poison that was DESTROYING m
husband and boys was a good creatu
Of God the Deacon sold them the nr
son the Doctor said littl. could dn
harm, as he took his social glass wi