Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-07-03
For the Watchman.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE
WEST


Two whcks ago this morning was seated
by this same desk, and engaged in the same
pleasant duties as now, but hca ! favored you
with a much longer letter than have time or
material now to do, In that letter wrote
you l should give a view of the moral and
religious character of the different people |
have met, but having been disturbed often
while writing, that portion was, by mistake,
omitted. have now more time, and will be
careful to write more fully upon the subject.
That portion of the West which has fallen
under my moro particular observation is want
/ ing that moral balance which is so necessary
/ in regulating society. Many seem TO be
possessed Of its qualities, but through some
unseen agency are prevented from giving it
paramount position. Whether this arises
from fear, interest or indifference am unable
to determine, but such is the fact. Religious
influence is very weak and low in those parts
of Wisconsin through which have travelled.
/ | suppose, more or less, every new State ex-
periences similar religious deficiencies 1t is
the only excuse, poor as Il is. which can
render for Wisconsin Watertown, whore
am now stopping, contains about ten thousand
inhabitants. Nearly or quito one half of this
population are German She has one hundred
and s'rly places where Intoxicating liquors are
sold within her city limits, three miles
square.) sir churches, foar schools. On the
Sabbath one can go into most of the German
saloons and take a glass; play game Of bill
/ liards or cards In fact these amusemonts arc
more INDUCED in on the Sabbath than during
! the week days, and the profits on that day, so
German told me, are double the amount re-
ceiyed on any other day of the week This
dcsecraton of the Sabbata is confined to
German saloons exclusively, end You will find
/ the day less regarded by that class than any
other. The Germans have two gardens in the
city, whore they spend the time which ought
to be occupied in attending church, in prom
enading over the grounds, drinking lager beer,
smoking, dancing, shooting at target, singing,
&c. They engage the band, who play lively
airs through the day, and the whole passes
off like a Fourth of July Celebration. Last
Sunday visited one of these places in COM
pany with -- to personally inform my
self, so that / could write you from my own
observation. In one corner erected
platform, and some fifteen or twenty Germans
were firing at targets, while Others sat in
/ groups of five or six, drinking beer and sing
/ ing. At the Mud Tavern, it is called, a
deaf aud dumb German was playing the piano,
and others were waltzing, dancing the polka
and, as / told , having a Dutch hug
generally Such scenes as these the DIR. did
not see, for while they were going on he was
| in church, where all should have been listen
ing to the word of God. There are a certain
class who are very religious, but they will
bear no comparison to the many who do not
believe even in the existence of God, Nou
will doubtless recolect there are moro inf
dols among the Germans than any other class.
Thus have given you birds-eye view Of
Watertown. Madison, an American city, is
as bad. | spent one Sabbath there and the
saloons and billiard tables were in operation
the same as here Beloit is religious city.
II was settled by those who revered the Bible,
and consequently is much of an Eastern place.
There is more wealth in that city than in any
other in Wisconsin, except Milwaukee. The