Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-06
WgImme [.
FIRE.! FIRE.!
Many Lives and much Property destroy
ed No Insurance III

The world has been visited by a most ter
rible confagration. The record of burning
cities, the crisping of writing bodies and
the mortal anguish Of those who persisted in
the fame, sends a thrill CT horror along the
nerves of a sympathizing humans " but
there is nothing in all the terrible record to
compare with the FIRE we allude to.
Behold how great a fame a little spark
kindleth." Away back along the dim path
way of Time, a little fire was kindled be-
meath the mystic alembic and a compound
the most consuming was produced. 1t went
forth as a little rll of liquid fire, Kissing and
seething on its way, whitening and blasting
all that was lovely and Of good report. The
stream widened until it spread wherever hu-
man foothas trodden, and the ruins of a blast
ell humanity mark its course of death. The
glory Of young manhood and the feebleness
of old age the innocence Of female purity
and the loneliness of home the virtue Of
individuals and the moral tone Of commu-
mites. have all been snapped and overthrown
by this insidous enemy. 1t has approached
the young man and bid him launch his all
on its wave and be merry, and he, obeying,
has been swallowed up. 1t has burned the
i props that fathers, mothers and wives
$ leaned upon, and crushed them with bur
o thens too intolerable to be borne.
# Thus, for ages, has Rum, like a fiery
stream, been consuming all within its course.
In vain have good men labored to throw
dykes across the kissing gulf and arrest its
- .,a>. . lo, l-.A n
reered madiy on, defy ing all moral efforts to
60 stay its desolations. Ten thousand engines.
Id moved by brave hearts and stalwart arms,
hy have been fighting against it, but still it has
Its annual holocaust Of victims. From year
to year it offers an unholy sacrifice upon
IL unsanctiied affairs Of its slain. 1t riots in
b;s blood and exults over the agonies Of those
IRE who mourn without hope. Anthems of woe
or ride on every gale, and a shadow rests upon
no nearly every home in the land. Strong men
no fall like the frail stubble before the blast and
ed the grave opens its damp portals to swallow
MD them up. The flowers of a thousand hills
nc are watered by the tears of Rama's mourners,
| to anu ne sanctuary Oh ten Thousand MONIES
NV darkens with broken idols of love. Property
is scattered and consumed, and povert,
means piteously in novels over what is lost
tho while beggared women and children crowd
highway and street with open palm. Every
r+r where is seen the wrecks sent adrift 10y thi
consuming fend, and the heart saddens owe
the scene.
No For all tins waste OF LIE ana propert
tbo there is no Insurance! When a mans hous
or store is burned, the question is often as
70 ked, was he insured p If SO, less regr,
,oro is manifested by his friends. But again,
GOOD the fires of the rum-fend there is no ms
rance. No company will take risks and j
Ia ?' sue poheles against that. n man d.es II"
W rum, his houses and lands are scattered an
gage "' - ans 0hidre peg Dreau 0 oie IN u
: on Asylum. He goes to the grave, and wor
- than all, there IS no insurance of life everla'
ing for his soul. A fire breaks cut in a cit
some daring man is consumed in the fam
and a few families are left homeless. r
public heart beats high with generous syl
~ pathy, a purse is made up, and the destitu
hos+ are rendered comfortable. Ten thousa,
Intry S"oSeu y runi-Ueh tnousa
finds Aii' II Dessafeu' ana the "orid stan
low on agape without extending the helping ha,
,ans or scarce a word of sympathy for the 81
ferers.
seal Friend of Humanity, this fire is ragi
all around you. 1t is silently pcrformi
: ON Its work of desolation on every hand. 7
i, 70 day, tomorrow, next year, you will see so
one you know and love fall before its inyi
bic, insidious flame. You will see helpl
IT widows and crying orphans bow over a drul
~ ards grave and weep as if the Leart wo,
81 break. You will see homes that were CT
II sunny as some Towering isle Of the sou
rendered dark and cherries as the grave.
Ply the engine Fight the fire !, Use eve
:, = : faculty with which Gcd las end wed you
arrest this consuming IL cam with which J
: NV manity is cursed and scoursed. RememLc
against the dcsolations Of the fiery RI
- ms tend, there as no Insurance =
ro-