The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-03-18
An Overwhelming Speech Iby a
Widow.


The Hon. George N. Briggs. ex.GOver-
nor Of Massachusetts, delivered an address
some time since, in. the course Of which he
related the following aneedOte with thrilling
effect: r-. ~,
Mr.. Briggs said thissquestion Of the in
PRODUCTION Of intoxicating drinks assumed
somewhat.O Of practical --fOrm::last spring in
a thriving borough in Pennsylvania. The
inhabitants had assembled, as was their usu.
al custom, to decide what number, if any. Of
licenses the town should petition from the
County Court, from whence they were is
sued. There was full attendance. One
Of the most respectable magistrates Of the
borough presided, and upon the platform
were seated, among others, the clergyman
of the village, one Of his detcons, and the
physician.
After the meeting had been called to or.
der, one Of the most respectable citizens Of
the borough rose, and after short speech,
moved that the meeting petition for the usu
al number Of licenses. They had better H.
cense good men and let them sell. The
proposition seemed to meet almost universal
favor. 1t was an excellent way to get along
quietly, and one and then another in their
turn expressed their hope that such a course
would be adopted.
The President was about to put the ques.
ton to the meeting, when an object rose in
distant part of the building, and all eyes
were inst ntly turned in that direction. 1t
was an old woman, poorly clad, and whose
care.worn countenance was tie painful in
dex Of no light suffering. And yet there
was OometEing in tits fash ortEe bright eye
that told she had once been what she was
not. She addressed the President, and said,
with his permission, she wished to say few
words to thesmeeting. & She had come be-.
cause she had. heard that they were to decide
the license question.
"You," said she, "ull know who I am.-
You once knew me as the mistress of one Of
the best estates in the borough. once had
a husband, and FIVE sons, sober, honest, in-
dustrious-an ornament to society; you,
Doctor, know where they are. Alas alas,
they each fill a drunkard's grave. You,
Doctor, advised them to drink little for the
stomach's sake, and you drank with them.
You are still here, but they are gone. And,
you fir-(pointing to the clergy man)-he
the intoxicating bowl to their lips; and you,
Landlord, you now own and occupy my once
happy homestead. You got it by supplying
my wretchsd husband and miserable boys
with that liquid fire, and drove me, an out.
cast. from my own door," She said, ~ have
done my errand. 60 back to the poor.
house, for that is my home. You, reverend
sir, you, Doctor, and you, Deacon, shall
never meet again until l meet you at the
bar Of God, whore you too will meet my ru-
ined .and lost husband and those Eve sons,
who, through your means and influence, fill
drunkard's graves" The old woman sat
down. Perfect silence prevailed, until bro
ken by the President, who rose to put the
question to the meeting-shall We petition
the courts to issue licenses to this borough
the ensuing year and then one unbroken
"No (which made the very walls re.echo
with the .sot6a, told the result Of the old
womun's appeal.