The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-12-18
MISCELLANY.
TWO -4SFECTS or THE CASE.

TWO ASPECTS OF THE CASE.
One beautiful afternoon in August there
came to me the heart-broken wife of State
prison convict. We tried to plan for his par
don and restoration to home and the world.
1t was a very sad case. He was the only sur
viving son of a very noble mali--one who lived
only to serve the poor, the tempted, and the
criminal. All he had, all he was, he gave un-
reservedly to help thieves and drunkards. His
house was their home His name their bail
to save them from prison. His reward their
reformation. 1t was a happy hour to hear
him tell of the hundreds he had shielded from
the contamination and evil example of prisons,
and of the large proportion, he had good rea-
son to believe, permanently saved. Out of
hundreds he once told me, only two left him
to pay their bail, forfeited by neglect to show
themselves in court according to agreement
only two
Bred under such roof, the son started in
life with generous heart, noble dreams and
high purpose. Ten years of prosperity, fairly
earned by energy, industry and character,
ended in bankruptcy, as is often the case in
our risky and changing trade then came a
struggle for business, for bread--temptation--
despair He could not safely
pass the open doors that tempted him to in
diligence, forgetfulness and crime. How hard
his wife wrought and struggled to save him
from indulgence, and then to shield him from
exposure ! How long wife, sister and friends
labored to avert conviction and the State
prison. 81 would spare him gladly" wrote
the prosecuting attorney "if he would stop
drinking. He shall never go to prison if he
will be sober man. But all this wretchedness
and crime came from rum"
Manfully did the young man struggle to re-
sist the appetite. Again and again did he
promise, and keep his promise perhaps month
then fall. He could not walk the streets
and earn his bread sobery while so many open
doors-opened by men who sought to coin
gold out of their neighbors' yices--lured him
to indulgence. So, rightfully, the State press
ed on and he went to prison. An honored
name disgraced, loving home broken up, a
wide circle of kindred sorely panied, a worthy,
well-meaning man wrecked SORROW and crime,
"All comes of rum" said the keen-sighted
lawyer. ~
As parted from the sad wife on my door
STEP / looked beyond, and close by the laugh
ing sea stood a handsome cottage The
grounds were laid out extensively and with
great taste. Over the broad piazza hung lazily
an Eastern hammock, while all around were
richly painted chairs and lounges of every easy
and tempting form. Overhead were quaint
vases of beautiful flowers, and the delicious
lawn was bordered with them. On the lawn
itself gaily- dressed women laughed merrily
over croquet, and noisy children played near
A span of superb horses paved the earth i'm
patiently at the gate, while gay salutations
passed between the croquet-players and the
fashionable equipages that rolled by. 1t was
comfortable home, as well as a luxurious one
Nature, taste and wealth had done their best
1t was scene of beauty, comfort, luxury and
splendor. All came from rum. Silks and
diamonds, flowers and equipage, stately roof
and costly attendance, all came from rum
The owner was one who, in a great city,
coined his gold out of the vices of his fellow
men.
! To me it was a dissolving 0Se@. / lost sight
/ of the gay women, the frolicsome children, the
impatient horses and the ocean rolling up to
the lawn. I saw instead the pale convict in
| his cell, twelve feet by nine the sad wife 60
ing from judge to attorney, from court to
Governors Council, begging mercy for her
oger-tempted husband / heard above the
children's noise, the croquet, laugh and the
surf waves, that lawyers stern reason for ex-
acting the full penalty of the law, An this
comes from rum. Woe unto him that giveth
his neighbor drink. Woe unto him that
buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and
his chambers by wrong Wendell Phillips.