Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-24
JANUARY *.
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ron THE SHIRT OF THE AGE.
The Camp of Alcohol Sketch.
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Once on a timo King Alcohol
In burning fury rose,
: Determined to bequilo bis friends
And capture all his foes.
He called bis Captains TO his side,
And a. their swelling ranks he eyed
The form Of Bacchus he espied;
stop cried he, mighty God Of wine,
NV Captains worship at thy shrine
NV throne and kingdom both are thine!
Then, turning to his waiting troops,
That stood around in molly groups:
sHearken = the hery monarch cried
w hear was instantly replied;
Captains Ramscuers, 1 command,
As spies you scatter Ger the land,
SeoG at the efforts mortals make
NV power 10 seize-or throne to shake;
Tell OF my strength my wide spread fame,
And make them tremble at my name.
Keep dark while Temperance men are nigh,
On All their movements keep an eye,
Tell all men they are wedE and blind
The most deluded Of mankind
Possessed Of neither soul nor mind.
And IL by chance some might believe
To thcm my poison freely give.
Besiege the youthful and the gay
Stand, ever ready in their way.
TIC all in trouble offer Joy,
And then their peace Of mind destroy.
To weak men promise strength Of mind,
With skill and energy combined,
-ARAM when they do tho beyTage crave,
Bscr out what mny mtnu 10 nave.
To eare-worn students offer light
And then obscure their mental sight.
To old men promise youthful hearts
Toll them that sparkling wine imparts
A manly vigor TO the soul
That ago itself, cannot control.
If to your promises they cling
Then let my poisonous adder sting.
Delude my votaries with grog,
And while engulphed in mental log,
Pour down the drug Of vile Deceit
Tell them that pirtWe is n cheat
That sacred honor is Disgrace,
That truth, itself, is only base.
Toll them 10 make the conscience cowr
And then enjoy the passing hour.
Sing songs 10 them Of flowing wine,
The Juicy flavor Of tho vine;
And as YOU take their lives by stealth,
Toll them you give them strength and health,
Their bloated cheeks will ever glow
When you the poisonous ~draughts bestow.
Fen when they totter DER the grave
Stand by, unGinehing, still be brave,
Make sharper still the appetite
Obscure the rays Of mental light,
If Of my letters they complain,
Draw tighter still my trusty chain.
Regard not pray'rs, my trusty friends,
on hinly hearts my pow'r depends,
The Orphans tears-your hearts oil stoneI
Must feel not. nor the widows groan.
The fear Of death, shame or disgrace,
Must not your loyalty cffaeo.
Go Rum Sellers to me be true!
nv hopes Of yictry lie in you.
Be brave, and smito the human race,
Give rum-tako lifo-and spread disgrace,
And when your glorious race Is run
Your battles fought, gour victory wonJ
When you have flrd the land with death
And yielded up your heeting breath,
Then shall my hosts your deeds proclaim
And shout triumphantly your name.
If faithful stewardship you bring
The Prince Of Night, shall be your king.
Long live tho kingr his troops replied,
Ills prcccpt' shall not be denied,
Well hoist the standard Of ill-fame!
And fight our battles in his namo!
Sworn enemies to all mankind,
Rum Sellers. We, in heart and mindl
Three cheers for Alcohol and four
For Baochus-yea, n dozen more.
o Bacehus We most humbly pray
Arise! your eloquenee display |!
Then rose the joeund God of mirth
Il long said be, to rule the earth.
If you be true to Alcohol
Obey his mandates ono and all,
The world into cur hands must fall
you see he said, and gave . wink,
These Temperance men know how to think,
But We know how to ACT the while;
And then he gave n kRooiHg smile.
But you must all your craft combine
Must cultivate the fruitful vine,
Aud press the juicy grapes to wine.
And that you may your foemen kill
10 not unmiudful Of the shiHj
II Is the engine Of my rage,
With II my hcrcest wars | wage.
Through il q stream Of poison rolls
That kills n multitude Of souls,
Then keep il ever by your side,
BE II your gioTy, weaih and pride.
Stand ready Mt your monarch's call
Through him my name must rise or fall.
lie has been mighty in his day
Nor does his vchemence decay.
lie has to mighty eonquests led,
His unsheathed sword is ever red,
With those whose hearts blood he has shed.
He fills the human race with dread
And numbers millions with the dead.
More woe than famine ever dealt,
Or from the stroke Of battle belt
Has he brought on the human race,
Adding n surplus of disgrace.
The arm Of pestilence made bare
Could not with his dire deeds compare;
Wars, plaques and famine, all in one,
Hath not so great destruction done.
Co Rum Sellers in his great name
Porpetuato undying famev
Great Bacchus 2 shouted all the host,
Thou art our ruler and our boast;
Beneath thy standard We shall fight
And spread creation with q blight!
Then with loud shouts, his Captains spread
In little scouts their troops were led.
They made them forts-and dug their denI
In town and cities built their pens.
Along the highways, too, they led,
Ger which their nets and snares they Spires
On weary %traylers passing by
These hend.like mOrtals kept an eve,
IL such got tangled in n snare,
They would n poisonous draught prepare
"A sovereign antidote for care.
On youth and innocence they fed
And LAUGHED e~xulting DER the dead.
About the aged, and inGrm,
With fair pretenses they would swarm
As hungry wolves. at large, we're thoy,
As eager to destroy their prey.
They waged the warfare day and night,
Preforring darkness to the light;
Too oft beneath the blaze of day
These troops attacked fed away.
For centuries tho battle ragged,
And still il Is most hercely wag'd,
AID still tia dying andtha dad .
In masses over earth arc spread,
And still the widows groans and cries
Her eeasoless lamentations rise,
The orphans duplicating pray'r,
Still rises on tho midnight air;
And still may Rum Sellers be proud
In dens and caves and shanties round.
From NUMEROUS stills-the smoke yet driV
Pollutes the azure blue of heavenl
d. when shall mortals CD cease to smite
The human race with such a blight?
When shall tho now'r ~ pacchua fa;l1