Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-21
THE EVIL BEAST.

from the text in Genesis: 1t is my sons
coat; an evil beast hath devoured him :"
We make the following extracts:
Joseph's brethren dipped their brothers
coat in goats blood, aud then brought
the dabbled garment TO their father,
cheating him with the idea that fero
cious animal had slain him, and thus
hiding their Infamous behavior.
But there is no deception about that
which we hold UP to our observation to
night. A monster such rs never ranged
African thicket or Hindoostau jungle
hath tracked this land, and with bloody
nav hath strewn the continent with the
mengled carcasses of whole generations;
and there are tens of thousands of faith
ers and mothers who could hold up the
garment of their slain boy, truthfuIly
exelaiming, Ii is my sons coat; an evil
beast hath devoured him."
There has, in all ages and cli,ues, been
a tendency to the improper use Of stimu-
lants. By this vice, Alexander the
Conquerer was conquered. The Ro-
mans at their feasts fell off their seats
with intoxicalion. Four hundred mil
lions of our race are opium eaters. In
dia, China and Turkey have groaned
with the desolation; and by it have been
quenched such lights as HALEY and De
Quincy. One hundred millions are the
victims of the betel- nut, which has espec
tally blasted the East Fades. Three
hundred millions chew hashish, and Per-
sia, Brazil and Africa suffer the deIerium.
The Tartars employ murowa; the Mexi
cans, the agsve; the people at Guarapo,
on intoxicating qnality taken from sugar
cane; while great multitude, that no
man can number, are The disciples of
alcohol. To it they bow. Under it they
are trampled. In its trenches they fall.
On its ghastly holocaust they burn.
Gould the muster,rol of this great
army be called, and they could come up
from the dead, what eye could endure
the rocking, fostering putrefaction and
beaslliness! What heart could endure
the groan of agony9
Drunkennessl Does it not jingle the
burglars key9 Does it not whet the as.
ssssin's knife? Does it not cock the high
wayman's pistol? Does it not wave the
ircendiary's torch! Has it not sent the
physician reelng into the sick .room; and
the minister with bis tongue thick into
the pulpit9 Did not an exquisite poet
from the very top of his fame, fall, glib
boring sot, into the gutter, on his way to
be married TO one of the fairest daughters
of New England, and at the very hour
the bride was decking herself for the al
tar; and did he not die Of delirium ire
mems, almost unattended, in a hospital?
do not know but that God is deter
mined TO lot drunkenness triumph, and
the husbands ard sons of thousands of
our best families 10 destroyed by this
vice, in order that our people, amazed
and indignant, may rise up and demand
the determination of this municipal crime.
There is way Of driving down the hoops
of barrel so tight that they bronx.
sketch two houses in this street. The
first is bright as home can be. The faith
er comes at nightfall. and the children
run out to meet him. Luxuriaut even
ing meal. Graduation, and sympathy,
and laughter. Music in the parlor. Fine
pictures on the wall. Costly books on
the stand. Well clad household. Plenty
Of everything to make home happy.
House the second. Piano sold yester
day by the sheriff. Wife's furs at pawn
brokers' shop. Clock gone Daug hters
jcwelry sold to get flour. Daughters in
faded and patched dresses. Wife sew
ing for the stores. Little child with an
ugly wound on the face, struck in au an
CRY blow. Deep shadow of wretched-
ness falling in every room. Door bell
rings. Little children hide. Daughters
turn pale. Wife holds her breath
BIundering steps in the hall. Door opens.
Fiend, brandishing his fist, cries. "Out!
out! What are you doing hero?"
Did call this house the second? No;
it is the same house. Rum transformed
it. Rum embrutcd tho man. Rum sold
the shawl. Rum tore up the carpets.
Rum shook its fist. Rum desolated the
hearth. Rum changed that paradise in
to hell!
| sketch two men that you know very
well. The first graduated from one of
our literary institutions. HIS father.
mother, brothers, and sisters were pres
ont to see him graduate. They heard
the app'auding thunders that greeted bis
speech. They saw the bouquets tossed
to bis feet. They saw The degree confer
red and the diploma given. He never
looked so well. Everybody said, "What
a noble brow! What fine eye! What
graceful manners! What brilliant pros
pecis!" All the world opens before him,
and cries. "Hurrah! hurrah!"
Man the second: Lies in the station
house tonight. The doctor has just been
sent for to bind up the gashes received in
fight. His hair is matted, and makes
him look like n wild beast. His lip is
bloody and cut.
Who is this battered and bruised
wretch that was picked up by the police.
and carried in drunk, and foul, and bleed
ing9
Did call him man The second? He is
man the first. Rum transformed him.
Rum destroyed his prospects. Rum dis
appointed parental expectation. Rum
withered those garlards of commence
ment-day. Rum cut his lip. Rum dash
ed out his manhood. Rum, accursed