Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-30
SOME CONGREGATIONS TOUCHING
ORGAN-GRGNDERS
And the eLawfulness and Propriety of Puttinc
them to Death.

assnpsr ego auditor tastxn' Nnnqrauns re-
posam ''-Juv. 1. 2.
The origin Of organ-grinders justifes their
extinction, as does also the doom with which
they are threatened. This race is derived from
Jubsl, the sixth in the descent from Cain. W no
vas . the father Of all them that handle the
harp and organ" (here note the accuracy of
description in the word handle Tho seed of
Cain, who destroyed his own brother, may with
Justice be destroyed in turn. 80
Later in history trace Of the race is detect
ed in the patriarch's pathetic outcry against
the instruments Of cruelty in his SON s tents.
In Egypt, and In Pharoah's time, they seem to
havs been swept away. Egypt was a wisely.
governed country. Had they existed. that
prince might have been spared nine of the
plaques, since an hours infiiction of this one
must have softened the rock Of his hard heart,
and forced him to send the tribes trooping
forth TO the desert, with their Ministries at the
head, playing the rogue's march of the period.
In that age, surely, organ-grinding was one
Of the lost arts. There is hope, then that il
may again become 50 strengthened by the
cheerful prediction, that in the latter DAYS sthe
sound of the grinder shall wax low" The law
permits the destruction of a nuisance. Organ
grinders are a nuisance. 1t is therefore lawful
to kill them Vide Judge Sbaw's Decision ad
fH.
Public policy requires their extinction. The
race consists chiefly Of Italian refugees, ban.
lshed for turbulence from their own country.
making trade Of revelations here, and re-
venglDg themselves by the murder of Music.
tor their inability to destroy order 1t is there
lore courteous and polite in Us, as a nation, to
kill them.
Humanity pleads for their abolition. They
are wretched people, born out of time, who
rear wretched progeny. Ii is then, generous
and merciful to themselves to kill them.
n a l.
perish They are wholly useless never doing
a hand s turn of work, though many a hands
turn OF play. 1t Is, therefore, prudent for So
eiety to kill them.
Upon this foundation Of reasoning NAV be
built strong tower of authorities in favor of
their extirPation. That rigid and moral CEN
Grafton, the Puritans, regarded the organ with
horror, as the DEVILS box Of pipes even when
used Tor sacred services. How much more
would they have been moved with holy zeal
for the destruction of his wandering emissaries.
who bear the abomination from door to door
Shakespeare makes the practical genius of
Oihello speak with contempt of hearing ga
brazen can stick turned,' in evident aliusion
10 grinding organs.
1t is true that Lord Bacon composed a work
known to scholars as the Novzm Orpnuu1u
or New Organ. But this only proves the ha
tired Of that great and wise man for old orpaDs.
The French style them "OTgnes de b0rbeTis. -
or barbarian organs. To Danish them and their
barbarian supporters is one of the first duties
Of civilized people.
Having settled the lawfulness, humanity and
prudence of Kidding the world Of organ grind
ers, 1t may be considered how this may best be
done.
Not, perhaps, by individual efforts. The
remembrance Of suffering might darken an act
OF justice into revenge. Nor would it suffice
merely for the State to put a stop to organs,
seeing that the addition Of stop to those they
have already would but increase their power
Of mischief. There are wiser plans, too, than
that OF execution upon the scaffold. which
might create morbid sympathy. For ex-
ample, make them the instruments of their
own destruction, by setting them, in some Sc
Guided place, to play each other to death. Or
they might simply be exiled to Tunis
The public ear is large and patient; the need
OF this reform once forced into it, proper plan
VIII not be wanting. Then will discord be
driven from the Land, and peace and quietness
return while the grinding organ shall deco
rate museums, and be wondered at by our
descendants as the last and most cruel of the
Instruments Of torture that disgraced an age
calling itself refned.-Euentng Post