Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-11-23
Go to Work.

T
l. the unlimited number of producers
in other words, loafers-whom the honest
portion of the community has to feed and
support. They are leeches on the body
polltic-vampires which suck the lite-bloo
of the camp or village in which they reside,
for their maintenance. They retard the adj
vancement of the prosperity of their imme-
date neighborhood by their croakins, and
deter those who would attempt to do some
thing by their evil representations. Sitting
around the stoves in the saloons, with their
heels higher than their heads, in piteous
tones they bewail the condition of the coun-
try. and sigh for the palmy days of 40. The
burden of their song is, 1.-THE country is gone
in"-"the mines are played OUT etc.
Lethargc. stupid and worthlPssly lazy them
selves, the very sight of labor is wearying to
them. and so far from indulging in it them
selves, they discourage others from it. Loaf
ers may be divided into three great classes
the natural born. the whisky hummer and
the gambler. The natural loafer holds labor
of any kind in as much adherence as the
devil does holy water. He would rather go
hungry and ragged than work. Probably he
has at some time held a petty official
position, and he considers work degrading to
his dignity. The natural loafer is invariably
a wise man-in his own conceit. He can
1narp Ily abnr, .o1
cnange which has been effected from the days
of Washington down to the present, and
knows, to dead certainty. who the next
President will be; but for the life of him he
cannot tell where he is to get his dinner.
Cease your croaking and go to work. You
have mistaken your calling. You are not a
try rest entirely upon your shoulders. Do
something. There are plenty of opportunities
for you. Do anything by which you can
earn an honest livelihood, and you and the
country both will be better off.
The whisky hummer is a bped of differ
ent stripe. lie has but one want. is actuated
by but one idea-how to satisfy his passion
for drink. An abject slave to his beastly ap-
petite, to appease its craving he stops at
nothing however mental and degrading, and
patiently suffers the scorn and indignities
which are constantly heaped upon him. 1t
matters not how proud, gifted and talented
he may have been; he was only the brighter
mark for the fend's deadly shafts. What if
lie were the pride of doting parents. beloved
by brothers and sisters and the admiration
of circle of friends: 1t but adds to the
tiendish glee of the demon Alcohol over his
downfall. Liquor blunts and brutalizes the
senses, stupeies the brain and deadens the
intellect. Its victims are numberless. They
are everywhere miserable wretches daily
drinking their own damnation. Set down
that glass. You cannot, did you say Out
upon you manhood. Fly from the tempter.
Did you not hear the serpents hiss as you
raised the glass to your lips: Touch it not.
Poverty, woe, wretchedness. degradation,
crime, torment. death and hell, are lurking
in its ruby d,pths. Be anything, do any
thing, but do not be drunken loafer any
longer. Black boots, wash dishes or clean
the streets, if you cannot get anything better
to do, but do something. Try to help your
self and others will gladly assist you. Shun
the bottle as yoa would the arch fend.
Stake your thirst at the town pump. live on
crusts and be loafer if you must, but do not
be drunken one.
The gambler differs widely from both the
other classes of loafers. As a general
thing. he is a vain, self conceited. ignorant
person, without the education or talents nee
essary to make living otherwise than by
manual labor. yet having an idea that he
was never intended for work, and an uncon-
querable aversion to it. The gambler is in
fact the most dangerous element in society.
lie is not only of no advantage himself, but
is constantly Turing the unsuspecting on to
destruction. By constant application he
acquires a sort of shrewd keenness in the
prosecution of his nefarious profession-so
do pickpockets. Men who are capable OF
better things, strive to make their living by
this custom sanctioned mode of robbery.
Morally, gambling mas downward tendency.
1t may be that all who gamble will not steal,
but they do the Eext thing to it-cheat.
Gambling is the primary school of crime.
Its worst feature is that it leads to habits of
idleness and dissipation. Young man, lay
down those cards and try a "hand" at run
ming tunnel or sinking a shaft. People
tolerate you, speak to you: but they would
not trust you with quarter without rope
around your leg for security. Stop trying
to draw your man," and shove a wheel
barrow. Divest yourself of the idea that
you are too delicate or too good to work
Thousands of better men than you are toiling
every day, while you are eating the bread of
dependence. Where is your prides Try
earning an honest livelihood for awhile, and
see if you do not "breathe Goes pure at
mosphere" a happier, better and more con-
/ tented man. Respect yourself and others
will respect you. Go to work.
| HIS GRACE, Duke Gwin, arrived in town
on Saturday last. The old gentlemen bears
his honors modestly and no one would sus-
pecr. from his appearance and actions, that a
ducal coronet once encircled his royal brow.
We saw him once before, years ago, when he
figured largely in politics in this State. Time,
and the shock of the momentous events in
which ne has taken part since that period,
have changed his appearance but little, and
! he is apparently no older now than he was ten