Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-06-20
The Pitfalls Of Congressional Life.

Among the exciting causes of immoral
Ivy, says the W ashington Capital, the most
prominent is your Congressman. Your
Congressman, unless he has family with
him, is in perilous condition. and then he
lives under a moral restraint. There i no
moral restraint that we know of 80 potent
as The WIFE. The wife fetches her husband
III at an early hour of nights, unless She
accompanies him to a lecture. a reception.
night meeting, or some other mild enter
tainnient of that sort; and she set, her
chaste face against the female lobby. The
female lobby weakens before and retreats
vigorously from the presence of the yirfu-
GUS wife. who is crown of glory, and
sometimes of thorns, TO her wavward Nus-
band.
But without the restraining influence OF
the domestic circle. what wicked men
those members are. They eat hash thro'
Lent with an indifference that i really
shocking. On Sunday they do not attend
divine service, but. on the contrary. smoke
wicked cigars and write profane letter, Ia
their constituents say profane. be-
cause they are full of lies The member
writes TO the constituent thai he loves
when In truth he hates him aud wishes he
were dead. He is on intimate terms with
the sirens of the lobby. and has delicious
little suppers with said sirens that cost
some ready money and some very question
able votes.
Now We say 10 all good wives who an.
so fortunate as to have husbands returned
to Congress, to accompany those husbands
II they hope To continue their marital rela-
tons in that other and better world to
which even congressman, under the Wild,
forgiveness OF Christian salvation that took
even theI from the cross OF heaven. may
aspire. These good women don't know to
whit temptations their liege lords and our
Lawmakers are subject. OF these, the
most seductive are the sirens above re-
ferrsd TO. But designing men having GER
tam jobs, as they are called, to get through
congress, involving millions. fetch 10 their
AID beautiful. accomplished, and. we are
PANIED TO write, INSCRIPTIONS women.
Ihink OF the unsophisticated Scion fresh
from some primitive, rude town where a
tailor plays the flute after night-where
the principal resorts are hotel with th,.
sign swung out, and water -troth and pump
before 1t, the barber-shop and corner yroc-
cry, and the only amusement the yearly
circus and quarterly revival, coming 70
such whirlpool of political wickedness
and fashionable folly as this. and then
meeting with = beautiful, ACCOMPLISHED
magnificently-d dressed female. who smiles
upon him, and has soft, confiding WAYS aud
fascinating manners. The plain, anfash.
ionable, homely wife, at home, whom
ne married in early youth, suffers in COM
parison. How the cunning leader OF the
ring brings Congressional simplicity in
contact with this fascinating creature
What sumptuous dinners and delicious
little supp9rs; what rare wines and rare
dishes tempt the Salon, until carried way.
ne rails, like Satan. never to rise asaji,
When the Scion wearies of these female
destinations the next step downward comes
in the shape Of money. Poor fellow, His
pay is inadequate, his business at home
has all gone to skies aud sevens, his family
needs money, and II Is SO easy to accent a
loan, and then little stock and then more
loans, and more stock. till the virtuous |
Scion goes under.
If the good wife wishes to save her larg-
er self she must not trust him alone in this |
wicked city. And when with him let her |
keep sharp eye on his movements and as |
sociates. She must not trust him to an /
unlimited use of night key, and if fash |
ionable females come about let her frown 1
with great severity and hurry her beloved |
law-maker away az rapidly AS legs-we
beg pardon, limbs-can carry her. If he
expresses wish to visit Welckers 90 with
him. 1t will be nice, quiet evening in
instead of monotonous night. The only
place she can fairly trust him-and we
write this advice in behalf of virtuous in
the Washington Club.