The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-12-04

Opf Much Abused Y0Ei. =

4 = 4
b wayfaring man. migrated from
town to town in various portions Of the
United States for several weary years
seeking anziously after some spot 81,
cred from vendors of intoxicating
fluids and from tho visits Of those who
'-imbibed overmuch. I was sitting in
the reading room of one of the South
'ern Michigan hotels one evening when
a chance item Of State news in daily
journal placed mo in possession of the
long sought for Information that Her
sey was place where ne liquor was
sold. A thrill Of JOY ran through my
whole being. "Ah" I soliloquized,
81 have found an elysiun at last. l
need no longer see crowded saloons.
I need no longer pick men up for hui
manity's sake and carry them to homes
where their intoxicated presence
brings misery and suffering to their
innocent relations. I'need no longer
listen to the terrible profanity of the
reeling inebriato upon the street, or
see him offer insult to ladies, abuse to
gentlemen, or injury to children Of
tender years. / have suffered and en-.
dured this for years for the sake Of
humanity, but l am worn and weary,
and my soul sickens Of it. Twill take
rest, will 80 to Hcrsey"
A few days enabled me to carry my
good resolution into effect. On my
way, fate threw me in the way Of a
lady and gentleman from whose con-
yersaion, appearance, &C., I soon
learned that they were also going to
Hersey.-the man to escape the man
fold temptations that were else where
offered him to drink, and tho woman
to- assist him, her husband, To- reform
and escape the tcrrors 81 the inebriate
The knowledge, thus gained checrcd
mo. I inwardly thanked God that
ovon among the priMeval forests and
wintry wilds of this northern region
there was an .oasisin tho moral desert
which alcohol is creating. At last
our Journey was ended, and from the
platform of the cars we passed to the
platform Of the depot at Jersey. Sa-
bic night had thrown her mantle over
mother. earth, and through the deep
ching gloom the tall barren pines stood
out silent and sombrc against the back
ground of the wintry sky. An inde-
scribable feeling Of loneliness passed
over me for moment, but tho CHEEKY
voice Of a runner at my elbow calling
s'Free bus to the -Housc!" aud
the quick, energetic tones of the agent,
the toot, foot, of the engine whistle and
ringing Of the bell, all treasured me,
and, reassurcd, I turned around and
looking away, saw the numerous
lights of the village cleaning bright
ly through the gloom of night, har-
bingers to me of an Eden, through
whose gates no liquid curse had found
its way. As turned thus suddenly
l thought caught the breath of some
one which gave me faint suspicion Of
whisky but perhaps | was mistaken;
but am morally certain that l heard
a man say in very distinct tone
Joe, there's some kegs here, and a
few cases of beer to go down town in
the morning." and looking in the d.
rcction from whence the words came.
| saw a young man who acted us one
having authority there addressing a
man who was just disappearing in the
darkness with what seemed to nae to
be United States mail bag.
started towards the village and
overlook a gentleman, engaged him in
conversation. found him to be ciei-
z,n of the place, and a lawyer, / think,
by profession. At any rate, he gave
ule great deal of information in u
very short space Of time; and, learning
my motives ia coming here he grew
very eloquent over tho happy effect
the absence Of liquor and liqror sci.
ling had upon tho morals of the place.
We met couple Of men who were
positively drunk, and asked my com.
panion what that m"ant? 'Ah," he
sad, "those arc men who got drunk
at Reed City, doubtless, and have
found their way over here before they
got sobcred Off" l wondered that they
were coming from the village and 90.
ing towards the depot, but was in.
formed that they had probably been
notified to leave town, and in trying
to catch the train were behind time.
l then felt called upon to remark that
it must be very aggravating to the
people Of Herscy to have men come
into the place drunk from other places,
as it might lead strangers to suspect
Hersey of selling whisky. "Oh no."
he said, 'our reputation is already too
we'll established" did not exactly
understand this last remark, but
knowing the propensity of lawyers to
say things which might mean one
thing, the other thing, or nothing,
concluded that ho must have intended
to have said that Jerseys reputation
for not selling was too firmly cstab-
lished to admit OF a doubt. no lon.
gcr doubted.
The next day / looked around town
a little, aud am sorry to say that l
saw several individuals who seemed to
be more or less sober, and some that
were undoubtedly little dru4 /
wns somewhat astonished at this, but