Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-06-30
INTERESTING GaIs.
Copyright secured according 10 Law.
YHI MYSTERIOUS PARCHMENT
OR
THE SATANIC LICENSE.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BOARD ov EXCISE.

"shan the throne OF inlquity have fellowship
with thee, which framolh mischief BY lawY''--Ps.
xiv. 20.
Ir is impossible for tho writer 10 give
a connected history Of intemporance In
the town OF Harwood In a work 30 lin.
tied. Tho reader will bear In mind,
therefore, that the meeting described In
tho present took place many years after
tho occurrence OF the incidents mon-
toned In tho preceding chapters.
On tho first Monday Of May, at an
early hour, thoro was a largo gathering
at ono Of tho village Inns. Some were
there from curiosity. They were there,
not because they were anxious 10 have
tho legalized channels and under cur
rents OF death dried up, the drunkard
reclaimed, and his family blessed, but, as
they said, "to soc the fun" A large
number OF others were thero because
the felt very deep lntereat In tho 70.
suit Of tho meeting. Appetite aud av-
arlce Inclined them TO do all In their
power 10 continue the legalIzed traffic
In the town.
On the platform stood Mr.. Skunk, an
old distiller, who had kindled the fires 10
drive his hellish machinery for quar-
ter Of century. The fumes and smoke
of his rulnous laboratory had settled In
a dense cloud over the whole town. He
felt sure that, II the cold-water men sue.
ceeded In preventing licenses, II would
check his fires, and diminish the streams
OF death issuing from the worm of his
distillery. II will not be difficult task
for the reader 10 determine which side
Of the question he favored. Near hin
stood Mr.. Lawrence, druggist. Mr.
l.. had made application for license In
writing, and was careful TO state that h,
wished to deal In Il only for medicina
and mechanical purposes. He was ex
patiating largely on the ultraism an,
ianaticism Of tho temperance men IL
their attempts 10 defeat all licenses II
town. and closed up his speech with th,
laconic remark, "They have put bach
the temperance cause twenty years.
There stood also hr. Nash, large ant
extensive farmer who annually furnishe,
] from one to two thousand bushels o
corn and rye for the distillery. lie wa
4 vehemently dlscoursing on the evils o
. cold-water societies. And one woull
have judged from his violent gesticula
ton and boisterous voice that he was Il
great fear, II the fires Of the distiller
should 90 out, the country would be de
LUG cd with bread. Mr.. Neal manifest e
his interest In the matter by being pres
ent an participating in the discussion
He was merchant, whose clerks ha
measured TO customers u sufficient quan
. tity os the products OF the still to poiso
generation. He prided himself o
furnishing pure wines iOr the cOmmunio
! tables. .Choice liquors Of all kind
sold on reas. enable terms: innkeeper
J. grocers, and elders OF churches will
: we'll to call and examine before pul
$ chasing elsewhere was painted on a
], old weather. beaten sign over the stol
\ door, which remember seeing when
/. boy. IL Is needless TO say that his II
fluence was on the side Of rum. An
: there too, were Mr. Doty, Parks, Freeli
" and Snibbs, ,innkeepers, who had alroat
), made written applications for license f
II the coming year. Around them WEI
gathered their intoxicated cuslome
from oil parts Of the town. Noisy al
n boisterous in language aud deportmen
= they passed through the crowd denou
: cling temperance men, and threateniI
then with terrible evils II they succee
ed in preventing licenses.
d The hour having arrived for the boa
Ia to convene, Mr.. Blakeiy, the supervise
called the members to order, and stat