The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-07-17
The Bessbrook Teetotalers.

ago. A property of some 5000 acres
belonging to an Irish lord, was Offered
for sale. John G. Richardson becam,
the owner. He had in view, first, the
advantageous investment of disposablt
capital, and next, the creation of m op
portunity for the laboring population tt
live under better conditions than ar,
usually within their reach. He wished
to put them in possession of the best
physical and moral development they
were capable of. At Bessbrook the ad-
mitted family lives in one Of the houses
built for the hands, and remunerative
work is procured for every one OF its
hands. II the father cannot work in
the factory they put him to work on the
roads, on the farm, in the quarry, tc
drive wagons, or TO whatever suits his
age, his health and his knowledge
They want all capacities, all aptitudes
for Mt Bessbrook nothing is sent to bt
done out of town, if they can find men,
women and children able to do it in the
town. All the machinery IS driven by
six engines, which consume annually
10000 tons of coal, and by turbine
wheel. In personal appearance, the
hands employed at Bessbrook will well
bear comparison with those of other
places. Undoubtedly work is done
there which is not healthful. There are
rooms in which the heat and dust are
not agreeable. Nevertheless, men and
women look well. Another source of THEN
welI-doing exists in the savings banks,
which stimulate economy. These in.
stitutions are 80 well used that most of
the depositors have accounts varying
from $500 to $1,000. Richardson is Il
member of that society of friends His
wife has many valuable publications. for
the labors of this enterprisn, which she
shares with him. They devote Il large
part of their time to the promotion of
Christian life in the factory and in the
town ; yet every one is allowed to follow
the dictates Of his own conscience.
These people think, speak and act free
from the mischevious influence of per-
fdious stimulants therefore they live
in peace and plenty. They have 50
great and aversion to houses where they
sell brandy, gin, whisky, rum, wine and
beer that the nearest tavern to them is
dubbed by them Sebastopol, to indicate
the fighting round about it. At Bess-
brook there are many evening occupa'
tions among them mothers meetings
and other analogous gatherings; Rich
ardsOn and his wife frequently visit i'll
person the whole domain, not merely
for commercial ends, but they visit peo-
pie of every age, because each of the
visited has temporal rights to be pro-
tected and soul to save. They on
courage the slow, shield the innocent,
raise the fallen, comfort the sick, help
the unfortunate, watch over the widow
and the orphan, and confirm the good.
To convert sorrow into Joy is one Of the
highest offices of the worthy. They
bear this in mind Their object is re-
allied in a circle of devout persons OF
the better class. The happiest results
flow from this praiseworthy labor. Bess-
brook, commercially speaking, must be
regarded as place of the first impor
tance in the linen trade. The produc.
tions of it's looms enjoy wide reputa
tion. They are so reliable that mer
chant prince of London said of then
lately, "One may buy without looking
They make no cloth of low grade. Th,
English pronounce them unrivalled
They go in quantity to Spain and Amer
lea. a.-Ge17nantOUn Chronicle.
A HINT FOR Town AND STREET Ma