Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-23
Familiar Dialogue.

Two friends have met, whom we shall call
Oliver oldschool, and oter Progress, and the
subject is the Temperance Reform. Peter
salutes his old friend and ancient ally, in c
something like the following strain: !
Good morning, friend Oldschool we are J
going to have a Temperance meeting in the
Town Hall, tonight; won't youmome and
give US a helping hand, as in days Of yore?
Odschoot-Oi / an not interested in the
cause Rop; your secret cabals have monopo-
lized the work, SO that it would be meddlesome
il not presumptuous, in an outsider to have
any thing to do with a Temperance meeting.
Progress.-Come, ~ncighbor, ! am sure you
judge those harshly, who belong to those in
stitutions which you have been pleased to
miscal +" secret cabals," when you attribute
to them any design or desire to o~stracise from
their c~ounsels and aid, those friends Of the
cause who have not seen proper to unite with
them in the organization to which you allude.
IL you will attend tonight, l know you will
be welcomed and your cooperation be highly
priced.
OldSchool.-What kind Of a meeting is it
you propose to hold?
Progress.-An oId.fashioned temperance
meeting, whorcplain, practical, experimental
talks are made-the Pledge circulated, and
signers obtained, promising to abstain from
making, buying, selling and using, as a bev-
crage, any and all Intoxicating drinks. The
good old times revived.
OidscAooL-Coming back to FIRST principles,
ore you? knew you would have it to do.
Is this your first meeting Of the kind?
Progress.-O! no we have had this agency
employed for several weeks past, and have
secured some IS or 80 signers to the Pledge :;
and passing by the significant sneer contain
cd in your %allusion to "coming back to first
principles" as unworthy Of you and unjust
to us, We want you to meet with us. win,
you do so?
OldschooL.-Well, l don'tknow. The truth
is, | have been 50 long out Of the harness.
and when ! remember how hard VIC laboreC
in the days Of Washingtonianism, and how
little permanent good was accomplished,
have long since almost dcsponded of curinl
the world Of tho disease of drunkenness.
Progress.-Fie! Fie! ncighbor Oldschool
it were we'll for the cause that those upol
whose shoulders you have shifted the respon
sibAity, are not made Of such ductilo mate
rails. w believe the scalpcl has already bee,
sharpcncd and is ready to be applied to til
cancer on the body polite, and with the aid {
you, and such as you, Of our fcllow-citizens
we will be able to pluck it out by the roots
Ohdschool.-Then pray tell me upon wha
you base so grand a belief.
Progress.-Know We not what agencies ar
employed by which our people are being sys
tematically taught to abhor not only drunken
ness, but the drunkard-makor. The Yout
of our country meet weekly, and are bein
educated to think and act Alright on this sui
ject. As the Cadets of our national arm
are taught the rudimcnts and science of wa
and defence, so is the Junior wing Of our tenn
pcrance army taught and drilled in the sci
cnco Of resisting and r~cpelling the assaults c
this great enemy. Divisions ofour army az
stationed ut every Town, Village, Neighbol
hood, Cuiicgv and School in the country
composed Of the veterans and sturdy war;
ors in our ranks-and by these meetings sue
as we hold tonight, we expect to enlist picl
et-guard to protect the out-posts of the Ten
porance Citadel. Come, won't Sou lend us
haad?
Oiiscb9oL.--I can't promise, p%ositivel.
but I'll try and come down and look on
while. But I've been pushed off the track
long, / shall feel like / was ON strange groun
| fear, in \ temperance meeting. What {
you talk about-what are. your plans =?
Pr0gress.-" Come and see! ~ I'm afra
if we tell you all our proceedings, you'll fir
some excuse for absanting yourself. But
you come, and if our plans do not meet yor
views, give us the aid Of your suggestion
anil we will try to profit withal.
Oiigetooi-Ncry well, I'll try to be wi
you. Good morning.
Progress and Oldschool meet the mornil
after the meeting, and the former accosts t
latter with
All, n3ighbor Oldschool, | didn't see W
Mt ourmoetiyg last night in the Town Hail..
sor~-~~~~st 0"t tumiiy were sick TO pr
vent.
Oijgchooi.--Oh! no. But it was a m
cold night, and 1 didn't expect you'd have
fire, and it serves me so badly to get cold a.
chilled, that couldn't venture out.
ProVess.-I am sorry thatdetcrred You.
We had Il comfortable fire, some good spea
ing and obtained several siguers. We me
next Tuesday night in the Christian Chur
COM down. The house will be comic.
able, and after that | hope to have anoth
friendly chat with you.-Good morning.
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