Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-19
Comm III %unitations.
LETTER FROM JOSEPH BARKER.-No ".

aud along the green lanes ] battle in the river
| talk with the ncighbors, such as are wicked or
daring enough to hear me talk l play with my
sisters and mother-in-law; and sometimes read and
write. One of the heretics in the village has an
excellent garden, and at times l 60 to look at his
fruits and flowers, and to exchange n few kind
words with him. Sometimes | 20 with my wife
and sisters Il shopping, and get into a lcng CONVEX
satiOn with the shopkccpcr, who, without being u
hereto like myself, is always kind, and never
tired of hearing the news of all the world, and my
own opinion about it.
One day | wcut to AudlcIn, the Club-day, and
saw tho shams, and the dancing on the Green.-
Audlem is another country town, Of Il similar kind
to Betlcy, aristocratic and high church, and far
away from the mischieyious influences of radical
newspapers, democratic orators, and religious her
etics. Club-day is a great festival, at all these
ancient country towns. The Club has a process
sion in the morning, hears a sermon from the state
priest in the forenoon, dimes Mt the largest and
most gcntecl inn, and ends the day with tea and
music ard dancing ON the Green, admitting such
us are not members of the Club to the tea and
dancing for two English shillings. The Club it
self is an association Of men or women, rs the
NNEN n.y. ~ W wv l' lNtN ~ 49, bNII'Ah "
relief in sickness and old age, The men have
their clubs aud the women have theirs. In those
old-,ashioned towns, NEST of people join the clubs;
the poor to secure relief, and the rich to patrouisc
and encourage the clubs. The rich often help in
keeping the accounts and managing the affairs Of
the clubs. On their annual feast days, the rich
and the poor meet together in the church, and on
the Green, and the parsons sanction all by their
presence. The rich even dance WITH the poor at
these festivals. Trae, a poor man seldom dances
with a rich woman but q rich man will often
dance with a poor woman. But this appearance
of equality only lasts a day. And the poor do not
seem to prize it so highly as they used to do
They like to dance with each other best. They
feel tie presence Of their patrons as n restraint.
Though a stranger at Audlcm, l suppose / was
known by most of the people there, as the publish
er and advocate Of the most dangerous and horri-
bic doctrines in politics and religion. Only three
men, therefore, spoke to me, of all that were on
the Green and one Of them was so deaf / could
have no communication e, it'll him; the second only
exchanged compliments; the third, the husband Of
a very intelligent and accomplished lady, who is a
particular friend of my wife and sisters, was the
only one who seemed disposed or courageous
enough to talk with me. l might, perhaps, have
succeeded in getting a talk with the clcrgymen,
but the only persons who had the right to give me
the needed introduction to them, were afraid to
take on themselves the responsibility Of doing so,
les; they should thus be the occasion of a kind of
conversation that might not be agreeable to all
concerned. Two or three ladies yenturcd to talk
with me a little, and | found them very intelligent.
OF course, none but ladies of some intelligence
and spiritual independence would think of talking
with a man of my reputation, / felt rather lonely
in the crowd on the Green, so l went into the
streets to see the shows, to watch the popular
games, and try my luck with the plow-boys and
the wagoncrs in firing at a mark. While walking
in the street, | was accosted by IA gentleman who
said he had heard me lecture at Nantwich, had
read all or most of my books, was acquainted with
several Of my readers and admirers. lie told me
of one man whom my writings had reclaimed from
drunkenness and misery, who was now q respect
able and worthy man, and in comfortable circum-
stances. This was encouraging. | was at home
now, and could talk as ! liked, without danger of
disturbing the peace and harmony of the great an
nual festival.
On Tuesday last, it was Club day at Betley.
The temperance people of the country round chose
the same day for a procession and sermon and tea
party at Bctley, and in the evening they had a
public temperance meeting in the open air. We
had, in consequence, a very stirring day. The
two professions, with each its band Of music,
reused the whole population. watched the whole
Of the proceedings, especially of the temperance
band, and attended the temperance meeting. AT
the request of the leaders in the movement, ] ad.
dressed the meeting, giving them the result of my
twenty years experience and observation. The
people seemed much pleased, especially when ]
! gave them some account of the temperance move
ment in America, of the Instruction of the WON
en- at New Lisbon in Ohio, and at Winchester in
Indiana against the drinking system in their town.
r and neighborhood. l had taken with me to Betley
t one Of the hatchets which | saw dcmolish the rum
t casks at Winchester, and | told the meeting tina
such as wished might see it, if they would call a
: my mother-in-law's after the meeting. You SHOULD
have seen how the men and women, boys and girl
crowded to see the wonderful Ratchet, and how
! they turned it round and round, and examined
e every part. 1t would have done you good. Tha
C Ratchet will be talked of a hundred years to come
0 that wonderful American Ratchet, that, in thu
hands Of u woman, had demolished rum casks anC
whiskcy barrels, and given a deadly blow to the
accused drinking traffic in the county town o.
Randolph, Indiana. | intend to exhibit it at Iced,
on Monday next, before a vast assemblage. viii
tell you the result hereafter.
l began this letter with the intention of giving
you an account Of one day of my life, and | hav,
not yet got to the beginning of my story. But
now you shall have it.
Il On Friday last received n letter from II II
d WEBB, n man who is known and esteemed by al
i you aDolitionists, and by the more daring anC
thorough retormers of all kinds, both in the Ole
= World and the New. In this note, Mr.. Webb in
formed me that he expected to be in Liverpool tina
night. to meet CHARLES f.. HovEY and PARKEI
pnIsnuRY, and invited me to be one of the com