Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-06-22
A Thrilling Scene.


the National Intelligencer. I was in company
with gentleman who had just returned
from the city of L., in New England. He
said he put up at hotel, and for time
took his seat in the bar-room. The door
opened suddenly, and female stepped in =
80 Ess the very picture Of agony-her hair
disheveled, her dress negligent, Der eye un-
steady, and her movements eccentric. She
seemed to hesitate at first, but at length,
gathering courage, she moved up to the bar,
and said Landlord, don't sell nv poor
husband any more rum. You have already
ruined us? You know that before he began
to come to your bar. he was sober man.
He was as kind husband as any woman
ever had. We had a good home, good
farm, and every comfort. But you sold him
Hquor until he had no more money to pay
Unbeknown to me, you got a mortgage on
his farm you sold it, and turned me and
nv helpless children out of doors Ny hus-
band has lost his health, his character, and
his reputation. He became cross and abu
sive to me, whom he once tenderly loved
He turns me out Of my wretched hovel into
the cold and storm He comes home from
your tavern infuriated like a demon. Ny
once kind and amable husband and the
lender father is a madman when he is in
| ly, and threatens to murder US p? Oh don't
give him any more liquor! and the tears
gushed from her eyes, while the landlord
stood speechess.
! In the midst Of these entreaties, which
should have broken heart Of adamant. a
man stepped into the bar-room, and, with
( the vacant stare of an inebriate, moved to-
ward the bar. Instantly the pleading wife
threw herself between the man and the bar,
and, with one hand against his breast, and
the other stretched out implorngly to the
landlord, she said, ooh don't! my dear
don't drink You'll break my heart;' and
bursting with agony, she turned to the land
lord, and said, Oh don't let him have it
don't don'tr And while this scene was
passing, heart~rending, and awful beyond the
power of description, the landlord walked
deliberately out from behind the counter,
and taking the woman rudely by the arm
said. This is no place for women and
: s.soilentIy tore her from her husband, and
pushing HcI Out3 onuG CII0 uOOl SiSSdiuoC uSI'
! He then went behind the counter, and place
ed a bottle of liquor upon it. The wretchec
inebriate staggered up and drank his dram
, placed piece of money upon the counter
; the landlord wiped it off complacently into th'
: drawer, and the drunkard passed out, mad
dened with the draught. to renew his bruta
: attacks upon his defenceless wife and child
ren
Nobody defends such barbarous cruelt
! as this. No one apologies for it. All a
gree to pronounce the landlord brute. Blu
G there was one fact deserving special atten
: ton. The whole transaction was under sane
" ton of law! For the sale of every glass c
. that ruinous liquor, which reduced an homes
" man and good citizen to the lowest degre
- of suffering and infamy, he could show
: : license from the officers ofjustice, undo
= authority solemnly conveyed oy grave sens
: : tors and assembIymen, signed by the Cove
J nor, and bearing the seal of the State
~ ~ There was no redress in law for this suffe
,e ing lady. She had been robbed Of her home
Of her comfort, Of her husband, and tt
:. blight of despair had been thrown over ht
q whole family but the law protected Il
). destroyer, and left her to endure her angus
= without the hope Of reliefs
: Tha people Of that State have change
r. the Law on that subject since; SO that tt
- = rum-sdIer cannot take away the home of Il
:" helpless, and ruin man with impunity.-
!, Haze tley done righty