The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-02-10
For the Courier.

benevolent people, talk Of the condition o
these poor people without stopping for .
moment to examine the cause, or ascertair
the reason why they are in that condition.
Let Us examine. We have now, within tho
city limits, in full blast, about dozen wills
key shops. mean those which keep oper
doors. and which are frequented without re
serve, and perhaps dozen more, domestic
grog holes, who go it on the one horse plan
Of jug and tin cup.
We have also in full blast three billiard Sa.
looms running five tables. and one ten-pi,,
alley, though believe that has given way
to the more elite game of billiards. Some
people are ready no doubt, to say that this
has nothing to do with the restitution spoken
Of Visit them and see for yourselves.
So many tables cannot be kept running,
so many Rum holes cannos be kept up I'M
less they are patronizcd, and the patrons
must haze cash.
Who visit these places I repeat, 60 and
see, and will venture to say that you will
find there, day after day and night after
night, those very men towards whom you
are so benevo,ently inclined.
l am aware that it is not customary to
treat of these things in this way. know, to
that whiskey rules the roost, that if a man
don't play billiards and drink whiskey, he is
looked upon as nobody.
l am aware that wi,iskey has chained the
action of the people Of Ottumwa, that so far
as saying or doing any thing against whiskey
is concerned, the people are compelled
Through fear of Political or some other in
fluence) to keep mum, and the votaries of the
great king Alchohol openly boasts of their
power. overheard one of these rum-suckers
say to the rum seller, not long since, that
they were bound to have whiskey Mayo,
and a whiskey Marshal, and they will, they
will.
Well sir, what e'se can you expect. than
poverty where such stats of things eyis t.
[ say that is what brings want; and am
cognizant Of this fact from personal observa.
ton. | have seen men whose credit was
gone, (persuing just such a course) who
could not raise the means to get bread, go
daily and nightly to these billiard saloons,
and play either at billiards or cards for the
drinks, while their families were at lone
exercising their ingenuity to keep warm
Talk about assisting such mn. Do they
deserve it No sir. will tell You what to
do, stop the cause that produces this effect,
strike at the root of the evil, and YOU not
only benefit the poor man you speak of, but
the whole community. know Young Amer.
lea will give me fits for presuming to interfere
with their amusements, young f1cdglings,
who are not out Of their teens but who wear
fashionable clothes and talk fashionable slang,
will curry me handsomely. Well, I cant
catch it any worse if 60 little further and
and tell them, excuse me, | mean give them
my opinion as to what think they had
better do. Go to schoolifyou are at leasure
fyou are so engaged that you cant go to
school, get some good books and read during
your leasure. If some of your friends give
party, go to it and enjoy yourself; if ball
go and dance; but for Gods sake keep away
from the pcrnicious influences of these sinks
of iniquitics, the rum holes of Ottumwa.
know the young men of this city, all OF
them. know some of them, after the hours
of business are over, stir up their fires, take
their books and read until bed time have
seen this others have noticed and spoken Of
it, business men always notice these things
and that young man gets his reward unaware
of the reason he is so lucky as to get so goot
a situation. Only persevere in that course
and you will never be troubled for the reason
know others who, as soon as they ar,
free from the business of the day, hasten tt
these places of fashionable amusemeat, and
| pass the evening in playing billiards ant
drinking Lager. You are not aware of how
, men talk about these things, You may think
, it all very fine, and some Of you cant &c
r employment, you wish reason for it.
f Refer to your visits to these hell holes, and
do not attribute your idleness to hard times
No sir, don't talk about assisting such mel
3 until they alter their ways Let them keel
away from these places go to work if the,
) can get work to do. If they cannot get EN-
ployment let them stay at home, or if the,
I will 60 down town, go somewhere besides
these rum holes, and my word for it, thing;
will change.
have said thus much because have 90
tired of hearing Of the poverty of certain in
dviduals, and because know that those VIII
= talk of assisting these men are not cognizan
, of the facts in the case. do not ask you t
take my word for what is here stated, bu
. I do ask you before you condemn this articl
to visit these places and see that the truth
here told
WCitizens of Ottumwa the time is not e,
distant, when these facts will be brougf
home to you in such a manner, that yo
will see it, if You do not now. A Railroa
is building, and that Always brings with
more or less of a certain kind of populatio
- | (drinkiny men \ Keen these r,,n hole, o,,n