Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-02-15
pntlic Nntice

To HOTEL KEEPERS SALOON KEEPERS AND
DRUGGISTS BOROUGH OF cLsARrIELD
/ have in my possession petition signed by
over seventy citizens of said borough requesting
me to notify you not to give Intoxicating drink.
of any kind, to persons who are in the habit of
becoming intoxictted and in making this request
be it understood that 1 have nothing personal
ag gaBst any of you who sell liquor according -
law; but L have something against this thing of
making men drunk, so that they have neither
sense reason. Much less have | sught agains;
those weak minded persons who spend their
money, destroying themselves and offending the
community, for every person is dissusted with
druukard even the man who sells to M and if
none but those who drnk we're TO bear the trouble
growing out of it. for one, wouId leave it with
you and them But ii you would accompany
TO the drunkards home and sec the wife and
children turned out of the house in a cold winter
night at from 10 to O'Clock, and hear her and
her children with tears streaming and crying.
asking protection even of strangers. and
times with a warrant aud sometimes without
seeking an officer and a shelter for the night and
for the arrest of the father and husband Sue
cases are frequent. L have seen mothers walking
around town night so timid that they n ight be
taken for eavesdropp ers or felons, peeping into
hotels and saloons. trying to get glimpse of the
husband or son (when at the same time hey
most likely in some back office or shop finishing
upon a bottle or two of Mishler, Boyer, some
other bitters) Were you to witness the agony of
the mother wife in trouble for a loved husban
or dear boy, pacing her room for half the night
and LAYING sIeeple,s the other half thinking and
praying for the lost one; (for she sometimes
thinks him LOST with alternate passions. some
times in love and sometimes in anger. and if you
would talk with this distressed father, surely you
wU~ad have manhood enough-if you did lack
humanity-to refuse these men liquor who can
not control their appetitss. Some of you belong
to churches of different demon limitations, and |
think all of you believe in a God who will reward
the righteous and punish the guilty. Oh, think
of Eternity. and your duty to your felOw-man
and be consistent. Do not let the love of gain
tempt you to make those men insane. [ know
I ka rDlr with and
sleep sounder without this part of the gain than
with it. [ will admit that there church mem
bers of every denomination in every line of bust
ness so Inconsistent that they suffer the love of
dimes and dollars 70 tempt them to do that which
is not light. But frem none of these arise such
dire consequences as from the Illicit traffic of
strong drink. My protest was exhibited only
about three hours, and over seventy of most
respectable citizens signed it L Ia ad not time to
circulate it, but am certain that | could obtain
twice th at number more in borough. All are
ready TO assisr and do everything reasonable to
stop drunk snnesS, especially on the street and
| they ask you to refuse all men liquor who are in
the habit Of becoming intoxicated. Do ask
! that which IS unreasonable! We are often called
upon to protect you. and your duty as mem be rs
OF society is to do the best you for the good
of society. Like the rest of you making
your living of the community, then live for
| others well as self We ask you not to make
that father or son drunk so that his family
ashamed to look on him. We're it possible for
you to fathom the feelings of father or m other
having experienced those feelings, probably you
cannot realize them. You know the use men better
than we do, and cannot say that they get drunk
with out your aid l tell you nay: you can dis
cover every man who takes it second h ndei and
if you d. your duty they cannot deceive you
more than once. You know their associates. Do
not give liquor to any one you suspect. Men
gagsd in your busines, should be men of strong
mind, who would not be afraid ash amed to say
to those in the habit Of drinking, you cannot have
| it.
take the liberty of stating that will with
held the protest snd names in question for a
while, and give this notice, hoping that it will
have good effect, and in tho future prevent the
exposure of sellers and drinkers. God knows we
your friends, real friends, and would do
nothing to injure you personally in the eyes of
your fellows. But if this has no effect in abating
the nuisance in question: the citizens and officer.
| of this borough are determined on having some
thing done, and may take a course which will not
be agreeable to some
| In looking the foregoing, l almost
tempted to commit il to the flames Those who can
write will not But considering the necessity
and hoping you may understand the hin is herein
contained, L give il in my rude manner, and by
adopting the line of duty indicated, you win
confer lasting favor your humble servant,
and very many of your fellow-ctizsns.
February. 1871. WM PORTER J p