Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-27
For the Spirit of the Age.
Daring Adventurei

P~tnane's Bravery Surpassed by the gentle,
We were called to visit the 5eaurrur !,
town Of C, few days since. and hal
to descend into cave in search of een-
teman () with whom we had business.
During our visit, which was necessarily |
short, (for to one unaccustomed. to such
climate, the atmosphere is vey unpleasant
and even unsafe,) we slysy scanned the
crowd, aye, crowds of persons there who
were sitting and lying, drinking and trying.
Judge of our surprise, when we observed
the "Spirit Of the>Age" lying on the coun-
ter, Immediately between the poison and
the poisoned! We say Putnam's bravery
was surpassed. He, in entering the cave
in search of the wolf, manifested spirit of
un2aunted courage, tits true. The cave
,aas dark and dismal; the entrance difficult
and dangerous; while the whole resounded
with hideous yels of monster whose spe-
cies were yet unknown. Its glaring eyes
and gnashing teeth portended imminent
danger. But Putnam, furious with rage
from the consideration of the loss he had
sustained, and would have to sustain from
venture in and ''demolish the animal"-
While in the present instance no conside-
ratiod but "the good of all mankind" the
dear Spirits daring adventure. Here he
stood, as we have said, in the very midst
of the conflict, and with gentle yet earnest
voice warning the silly creatures to retreat
for life. There, laundering the fiery anath-
emas ofjustice against the traffic, and call
ing and beseeching ali, .Ier and buyer
drinking and drunken, to flee to the noun.
tain and linger not in all the filthy low.
land! For time we stood in silence
surrounded by staggering objects in hu
man form, mingling internal oaths with
the clashing arms which were dischargine
deadly fires "MirabiLe dictu % what |
sight! Notwithstanding these "ferociou
yells," the gentle Spirit was maintaining
his position and in silent eloquence wa
woong and warning, by all the reasonin,
of philosophy, the testimony of physicians
> the expostulations of his bleeding country
the solemnities of dying bed and jude
.lnent bar, to cease the life, aye, the sou
destroying practice of drinking, and abar
don at once and forever, the inhuma
traffic.
Beloved brothers, here is an indirect rt
proof for our timidity in the glorious refo
nation. Here our Organ and herald hs
taken the front! We should be there "
should do the work and plant the benig
standard of Love, Purity and Fidelity,
every district, county and state in th
mighty domain of old King Alcoho
and leave the dear Spirit to perform ii
duties of the historian, rather than th
of the General or even the Privateer. Al
why, oh! why not do it? Why not raj
: the battle-cry, "fy to your tents, oh ]
rael!' to arms, to arms, for God and ye
7 country! Victory or death!
: Other associations can raise an excl,
e ment in day, and why not we? Is it
l. cause our cause is of less Importance?
;, the OUR common cause so near completi
) as to require no further efforts on the ps
e OF the Sons, or are yeu waiting until t
0 ranks of the enemy increase! Are I
n four hundred and eighty thousand drur
n ards who daily breathe American (l ;