Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-02-19

Mr.. Crosby was firm, and it was pleas
ure to him when the season was through
and Joe Carter was paid up and gone.
Joe Carter went to the city, but not
alone. John Crosby, without his fathers
consent, had left his home for short time;
just to see the city, and satisfy an inAam-
ed Imagination and curiosity. Carter had
offered to pay expenses, yet had skilfully
appealed to his pride, and shown that
John had earned good sum and it would
be no harm to reduce his fathers profits,
SO both had money. They both found en-
ployment in a livery stable, and soon
formed the acquaintance of dashing
free handed man by the name of James
R. Turner, who seemed to have plenty of
| time to assist them in carrying out their
plans, which were to work steadily through
the day and in the evening ramble through
the streets and visit all public places open.
IN exiting life and one we'll calculated to
drive reproof of conscience away. Night
life in city exemplifes the old truth
that: "Man makes the city, and God
makes the country"
There may be few places instituted by
good men where the quiet and thoughtful
laborer may pass his evenings with pleas
ure and profit, but the stranger is apt to
be taken into those places of foster prof
ligacy, intemperance and sensuality, and
when led on by an adept like Turner, it is
railroad to ruin.
While we pass in silence some of the
ways that lead to death, which were open
ed to their view, we mention that one even
ing they stepped into well lighted saloon
where a negro boy was pounding the keys
of piano, whose music attracted the at
tention of the passcr by. A well furnish
ed bar was an additional attraction. John
Crosby, hearing squealing and scratch.
ing in another room, inquired what made
that noise. The bar keeper, at Turner S
request showed his visitors into back
room, where seats were ranged around
like seats at circus, and in box near
the door were some forty large rats, which
were eating meal from pan just put in
for them, and near by were two or three
dogs which seemed anxious to get at the
. rats.
"When do you have the next pit,
asked Turner.
IF | get rats enough, it will be next
Thursday. | want about sixty. Dar
Palmer has bet ten dollars that Terrier
, Dick will kill 10 rats as quick as my
Spot can ten. Then theirs some othel
dogs that'll be tried"
"How many spectators can you seat,
asked Turner"
r "Well, by crowding close little, up
wards of one hundred" replied the bal
keeper, "and we generally have five cent
admission. and with the drinks it makes
. a good thing"
I "Well," said Turner, Il hear the po
i lice are coming down on YOU
, , Fudge" said the bar-keeper, "they
won't do it. They'd fine divil Of {
u row if they should undertake that game
. Come in next Thursday evening, and hav'
a jolly time"
Thursday evening came, and also ;
n trio to the rat pit. Here were the muscl
e of that part of the city,--prize fighters
s and their imitators, fancy men and ras
= cals,-men who only found recreation ant
a amusement in those things which tended
!, to make them more british. As the ex
: ercises progressed. and calls at the bar be
+ came more frequent, the noise rose to con
cert pitch, or higher, and as the pettet
e dogs shook the vitality from the rats, tn
!, owners shook their fists at each other
i profanity and obscenity; all were so diff
d ferent from Crosby's own quiet home tina
IS his heart grew sick. He desired to turl
e from the husks with which he had beel
= trying to satisfy himself, and enjoy tn
> purity and quietness of his home. Ii
y the theatre, museum, billiard, gambling
and dancing saloons, he had seen muc
IS that was beautiful, exciting and fascina
d ting. So we pass in silence over that par