Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-01
g.. ~.
An Unbroken Column.


1t is really lamentable to see how steadily
he great column of drunkards move on from
The GROCERY to the grave. 1t is an unbroken
column. Though thousands fall with eyery
rolling year, yet the bloated host reels on
each day with a heavier tread. How are the
numbers maintained Why is it that the
ranks never grow thin, and the roll beat Of
gingling glasses cease to marshal a gibber-
ing host? Who I'LL the places of the tbou,-
ands that fall in pits of eternal darkness
where no star of hope ever sheds a single
cheering ray? The recruits for this miser-
able service come from the young men of the
land. Thousands and thousands of young
men-young men of promise, around whose
life fingers the fondest hopes of doting par
ents and the cherished love of affectionate
sisters, are annually registered as conscripts
without soldiers pay, honor or reward. In
thousands of happy homes in this gospel land
this accursed CONSUMPTION is going on, des-
pite the tears, the groans, the prayers of kin.
dred and friends. Fast as the wornout drunk
ards fall, the conscripts are driven into their
places and thus the column is ever unbroken
1t almost seems like a selfsacrifcing pat
riotism prompting the young men to enter
the inglorious service of rum. They exhibit
a heroism worthy Of some glorious causeN
But for them, the beaten highway from the
!, grog shop to a Mecca of eternal fire would be
Swallowed by unbroken weeds. Poor houses
and prisons would breed a fungus mildew on
tenantless walls, and the hangman would
grow less adept in tying knots from want of
practice. Pauperism and crime would he
come strangers to lawyers and jurists, Spd
vice would die in its rags and filth. But Tor
;" the heroism of the American youth, this land
of light and letters could not point to its reel
;. ing army of so 1000 ~druDkards! Look at the
drilling ranks of the boy-tiplers-behold
them, Oh! thou sage political economist, aud
ed remember that from these the ranks of the
bloated, red eyedlegion Of American sots are
it to be supplied and the hell bound column
,at kept unbroken! Place this fact in the same
10 schedule with your electric telegraph-your
ats steam engines-yOur academies-ylur prin.
he ting presses and a thousand other American
he ~triumphs, aud feel in your patriotic bosom q
ce generous glow Of pride for this other evidence
lie of prosperity and greatness, 1fyou can.
the Young man ! if you are fully determined
are to be a drunkard, you must not give up Il
TO despair because a few drinks, or one debauci
sti- does not render you as loathsome as the Vi
,tes lest. Persevere-perseUere in the service 0
the the rum devil, and sooner than you coul
reasonably hope, you will be able to present
your internal commander in chief as corruI
a BODY and as black a soul as the old vetera
;. of an hundred seiges. Be encouraged. Thi
palsied old sot at your side, with blood su
fused eyes gazing down into the darkness
a grave that he knows is to be to him the yes
bule of a surging fake of fire, ofwoe. of pal
of despair forever and ever, once stood ju
~, where you stand. His campaign is almo
over, but the olden fire is not dead yet, f
he raises his head when the iingling rev
e 40 -a0Hy s'ur1rs rams upon his deafe
dow ing ear. Courage and practice has do
sion much tor him-you can see for yourself b,
milo mueh-it will do the same for you. limits
mod the example of the most SCARED and m,
atch oo'S' copy tner peculiar and p
To iShed diction. Pour the poisonous compoun
vis- down your throat with the same courage a
aver zeal for proficiency. Make the groggt
m a your barracks, and bow the knee to the or
with seller as your best friend. Remember |
,iov- is engaged in a traffic with Jehovah's Gu,
lowering over it in threatening clouds
ocks gathering vengence, on purpose to make v,
,eth an accomplished sot with its gaudy emil
ime ishments and to gather gold himself by t
hills patriotic service. And if he braves such
dow awful curse, and sells his own soul for w
plla- accomplishment, ought you not to bow t
her. knee to him az your best friend in the ca
you have espoused I? On young men.
seen the year is just half gone and more tn
twenty thousand recruits are yet needed
r its ELL up the annual service. The gloomy ora
,ssed is yawning to be filed. 1.-The wor m I
= dieth not" groans to be fed with its annr
morsel of blasted and drunken immortalit,
a.; Murders, bloodshed and violence must
kept on the increase, lest devils howl in m
disappointment, and resolve in their INFER
frog council that the world is growing wiser a
very betteri Onward onward :! Young m,
If you have determined to FIJI a drunkar
2lace-oncdTd! to a swift destruction 2
Y Vi give place to others who come after YOU |