Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-26
0rgan-Grinders and the Propriety of Put
ting them to Death.

["semper ego, auditor tantumg Numquamue re
ponam?" Juv. 81.
The origin Of the organ grinders jus
titics their extinction, as does also tht
doom with which they are threatened
The race is derived from Jubal, th,
sixth in descent from Cain, who wai
''the father of all them that handle the
harp and organ" (here note the accu
racy Of description in the word han,
dle.) The seed of Cain, who destroy
ed his own brother, may with justice bs
destroyed in turn.
Later in history trace Of the race il
detected in the patriareh's pathetic out
cry against the "instruments Of cruel
ty" in his sons tents. In Egypt ant
in Pharaoh's time they seem TO have
been swept away. Egypt was y wisely
governed country. Had they existed
that prince might have been spared
nine of the plaques, since an hours in
Fiction 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~tAeir MINISTRIES at their
head, playing the rogue's march of the
period. In that age, surely, organ
grinding was one ofthe lost arts. There
is hope, then, that it may again become
so strengthened by the cheerful predic-
ton, that in the latter days "the sound
Of the grinders shall wax low" The
law permits the destruction Of a nui-
sance. grinders are a nuisance
1t is, therefore, law ful to kill them.-
| wide Judge Shaw's Decision ad fin.
Public policy requires their extinc-
ton. The race consists chiefly of Ital-
ian refugees, banished for turbulence
from their own country, making trade
lof revolutions here, and revenging
themselves by the murder of Music, for
their inability to destry order. 1t is
therefore, courteous and polite in us, as
nation, to kill them.
Humanity pleads for their abolition.
They are wretched people, born out
of time, who rear wrctched progeny
1t is then, generous and mercitul TO
themselves to kill them.
Political economy demands that they
should perish. They are wholly use
less, never doing hands turn Of work,
though many hands turn of play. /;
is, therefore, prudent fer society 10 kill
them.
Upon this foundation Of reasoning
may be built strong tower of author
ities in favor of their extirpation. That
rigid and moral generation, the Puri-
tans regarded the organ with horror
as the Devils box of pipes, even when
used for sacred services. How much
more would they have been moved will
holy zeal for the destruction of hi.
wandering emissaries, who bear the
abomination from door to door.
Shakespeare makes the practical geni
us OF Othelo speak with contempt o.
hearing "a brazen candiestick turned,
IN evident allusion to grinding organs
1t is true that Lord Bacon composed
work known to scholars as the No
yum Organum or New Organ. But
this only proves the hatred of thai
great and wise man for old organs.
The French style, them ''orgues dt
barbarie,' or barbarian organs. Tc
Danish them and their barbarian sup
porters is one of the first duties of :
civilized people.
Having settled the lawfulness, hu
manity and prudence of ridding the
world organ grinders it should b, con-
sldered how this may best be done
Not. perhaps, by individual Efforts
Tho remembrance of suffering might
darken an act of Justice in revenge
Nor would it suffice merely for the
State to put stop to those they have
already, would but increase their pow
CT of mischief. There are wiser plans
too, than that Of execution upon TIA,
scaffo!d, which might create a morbid
sympathy. For example, make then
the instruments of their own destruc
ton, by setting them, in somo secldde'
place, to play each other to death. o
they might simply be eXiled to Tunis.
The public ear is large and patient
the need Of this reform once forced in
to it, a proper plan will not be wanting
Then will discord be driven from tn
land, and peace and qaictness return
whilo the grinding organ shall decorat
. museums, and be wondered at.by on
descendants rs the last and most crnC
! of the instruments of torture that di:
graced an age calling itself refined.