The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-02

CHIEF
"There is a kind Of property destroyed
which is seldom thought of, in viewing
the consequences of the rum traffic, and
the destruction of which forms one of our
strongest objections to it.
| " AS the traveller stands in the Seven
hilled City aud dreams of the greatness
Of the once proud mistress, he looks
around with awe for the evidence Of that
/ greatness. The winds sigh amid the
crumbling ruins, like the footsteps Of the
past, and he finds himself alone in the ST.
Ience Of desolation. Tie ruins have out
lived the greatness Of the proud empire.
He sits upon the broken columns which
silently yet eloquentlyspeak of the Greek S
skill; but that classic land is only re-
membered in history and perpetuated in
her exquisitely chiselled marble. The
proudest structures of earth pass away.
The ivy ere 'ps over the ruins, and dust
gathers thickly upon them. Even the
pyramids, should time continue, will vase
away under the beatings Of the storm, and
mingle with the sands of the desert. But
there are monuments which never crum-
! bic. There are structures which lift up
proudly amid the surgings of ages, and
! bid defiance to time and storm. We
muse sadly where lie the ruins of empires,
and tread carefully where nations are en-
! tombcd. But to us there is no sight so
utterly saddcning as a MIND IN ruins.
/ We weep from heavy heart as We see
the gloom of rayless night gathering
O.. over the mind, and the structure which
was moulded by the hand of God crum,
bling into ruins. The mind is property
property which is Of more value than
all the wealth of the material universe.
I And here is where we find one of the
most startling effects Of intemrerance.
Here is where the system wars upon a
class of property which cannot be gauged
by dollars and cents. Here are ruins,
thickly strewn up and down the land;
over which the patriot, philanthropist,
and Christian can weep with keenest
sorrow.
Look into the bar-room, where swarm
the infatuated inebriates. Their SLAYER
ing nonsense disgusts, and their wicked
ness shocks. You turn away? No, Sir,
stand within the Threshold. 1t Is IL
censed house, aud that man behind the
bar has been declared fit and competent
to keep a tavern. You voted for the
Commissioners who licensed him to Go
this. Now, Sir, stand within the throat
of the seetbing crater, and snuff the fumes
which come up from the ever active and
consuming fires. Turn away from the
hoary drunkard in rags. whose shaking
hand is lifting the glass:to his lips, to a
scene close by. Stretched upon his back,
with leaden eyes rolled back in the head,
and the arms thrown out, lies man of
middle age, slowly breathing IN the deep
stupor of lowest drunkenness. The face
is nearly a livid purple, still darkehlng
beneath the eyes, and assuming llvld,
burning red upon the brow and temples,
He is evidently man of middle age, and
his form was once one Of rare and noble
beauty. Both mind and body are now
crumbling into decay. His comrades
have gone through the mockery of plac-
ing coppers upon his eyes and stralghten-
ing out his legs upon the floor. And
there he lies i'll the pronlscuous nth OF
the bar-room. Even the dog who comes
in snuhs daintily, and turns away from
the bloated corntcnance with signs OF
loathing and repugnarce. One OF the
company has practised splitting tobacco
Juice into his face and hair. Nature has
attempted to beat out the poison, and the
froth of the conflict has oozed up from
the stomach, aud courses slowly and dis
gustingly down the side of his face, A
scene Of more stckeuing and humlilat-
ing character could hardly be presented, :
And yet that was o. ce a noble and gifted