The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-12-25
A SELECTED ALE.
From the Banner of the Unon.l
THE CLUB OF TWELVEl
n TALE OF TE.MPTA TION.
CHAPTER I,
POUNDED ON FACTS.

CHAPTER I.
Whittier so fast, Charleyp cried {
youth of about nineteen, to friend, or
ovettaking him one fine morning. 81
have been in search of you for an hour
Our Club rs to be organized tonight
and we require but one more TO make
our number complete. Have you made
up your mind to join ,rs 2"
" Why, Philip. havescarcely thought
of the thing since you mentioned it 10
me the other day. am afraid that il
my mother and sister were to hear OF
my taking such step, they would 5e
exceedingly distressed, know they
'disapprove of such associations"
Pshawm exclaimed Philip, "what
have women to do with such matters
1 woald oct be tied TO their aprons strings
Forever. Come. my man, do not be in-
ffuenced by such uotions. Your mother
andsister need not know of it. Once for
al, rseiR sou come and make our num-
Der t,rsbust Harry E--, Carlton, and
Edward F, have all joined US; you
will be'the only one, of o ur own select
circle, that has refused--th at is, if you
40 so, bat you will not, am sure"
Thus did Philip Onidge, youth of
deprayed habits, aud loose principles,
,eendeavor, suhtly, to destroy, ~ the
mind of his companion. those fee liGgs
of regard and respect for the opinions
/, of "a wise mother and amiable sister,
and tdFeagh them, the influence nf vir'-
ttucos women, which is the surest safe
guard of mans character in life.
Charles Neville paused a moment,
and then replied:
a. i will meet with you tonight, but /
cannot promise 10 join the Club"
i. II cannot listen TO your REFUSAL" an
swered Philip; besides, without de-
.cided answer, you will not be admitted
Come, throw away your old-fashioned |
whims, and go in with US for enjoying
life. You will not repent it."
"Where do you meete"
% No. - B street, where we have
taken a large, luxurious apartment"
Charles gave the fatal promise
Il will be there" said he, and they
parted.
In the winter Of 1856, there met in
"a private mansion of neighboring
city, some hai(-dozen young men, for
athe purpose of passing away, in various
amusements, one of those intensely
cold evenings for which that winter
will long be remembered. They were
young men possessing no fix principles.
or acknowledging no guiding rule of
morality: and YET, careful and judi
cious parental training, might have
made them ornaments TO the domestic
and social circles. or successful aspi-
rants 10 the public arena. They were
not, as yet, depraved and vicious; but
the projects of that evening sealed the
fate of their future existence. Then
were the first steps taken toward the
formation of the Club, of which Philip
.Ofridge was SO anxious that his friend
should become amember. Six in num-
bef, they each pledged themselves to
bring one addition to The circle, which
was not to exceed twelve. An apart
.meRt was to, be leased, and furnished
by them in most sumptuous manner.
Even all the incentives to rnin, in the
shape of cards, dice. the billiard tablet
and wines of the first order, were to be
so that the "Goddess Of
Pleasure might be worshipped in a
fitting manner. Il was to this temple,
that Philip 0rridge introduced Charles
Neville on the evening of the day on
(Which the conversation recorded above
took place. The new member was re-
ceived most cordially, and welcomed
with enthusiasm by two or three of his t
friends who had joined hesitatingly I
but who now felt as if they were sanc- :
toned ia so doing, when Neville united +
with them, and took the pledge pre- /
scnhed By the six original founders. Il
0ae of she resolutions now proposed t
10 be adopted, was that they should h
exclude themselves, henceforth, from /,
he society of the virtuous of the female u
,ex, and seek alone that of the aban- Il
loned. Incredible as this may seem, G
t.is true, that these infatuated youths,
lefying the laws of their God, of man, re
md of nature-forgetting the tender G,
are of mother, and the pure love of "
extraordinarily shut themselves d,
4t froaa the refining and purifying in n,
luence of the gentier SEX pr
Charles shuddefed with horror--he al
bit that be could not adopt the resolu- ia
on--he saw the mild eyes of his
heard the loving accents of si
is only sister, and refused; but alas bl
9 had not the strength Of mind to re- Sc