Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-26

these bands to call upon parties in the line of
selling rum, and demanding that each vender
should sign the pledge and give up his busi-
ness. Upon the refusal of the delinquent,
these bands Immediately invaded the premises
and commenced series of prayer meetings.
In some instances, warnings having been given
of the approach of the raiders, the bar-rooms
would be closed. Nothing daunted, if they
failed to gain admittance, impromptu prayer
meetings were organized on the sidewalks
and continued till the venders gave up, or the
praying bands were exhausted. The epidem-
ic spread till it reached this city. The first
attempt at reformation in this line was inau-
gurated few evenings ago, at the rooms
of Harry Hill, on Fast Houston street, near
Broadway-a resort of the most vicious gam
blers, prize-6ghters and degraded women in
the city. Having desire to witness the pro-
ceedings, I dropped in to take few notes and
satisfy my curiosity. found the premises al
ready prepared for business, and q motley
crowd in attendance, awaiting the commence
ment of proceedings. People arrived slowly
at first, but by halfpast seven the room was
crowded to suAocation. Among the first ar
rivals were several well-known temperance
advocates of the feminine gender. After
ward they came in pairs, and then in triplets,
without male escorts, and were generally of
an uncertain age, judging by the profusion
of "cork-screw curls" and vinegar counte-
nances. There was large number of females
present, but the greater part of the audience
was composed of "men about town." The
best of order prevailed, and gentleman, con-
nected with the movement, after the crowd
was seated, gave out the hymn
GAIL hail the power of Jesus name,"
whereupon the ladies began to sing, and the
audience dofed their hats and sat quiet and
orderly, many of them wearing look of Won
derment, which seemed to denote that the
most of them had never heard hymn sung
before. The singing was followed by an ear
nest prayer by Mrs. Lawrence, who prayed
God to give strength to the cause and save
the nation from the curse of rum drinking.
Another hymn was sung, and gentleman
stepped forward, Bible in hand, to speak; when
a voice near the door cried out "Touch us
light, old boy" and make us feel awful bad,"
said another. These gibes were promptly
stopped by Harry Hill, and the proceedings
continued, with little or no interruption, by
speeches, hymn singing and the reading of
letters-among which was one to Mrs. Gen.
Grant, requesting her influence to stop the use
of intoxicating liquors. One asking Senators
Carpenter, Chandler and sprague to be
committee to receive the praying band at the
bar of the United States Senate, and another
to DR.. Hall asking him to use his influence to
have the use of wine dispensed with at the
communion.t At late hour many of
those who had attended-tbrough curiosity,
or probably for better cause-had gone; the
bar once more assumed its legitimate func-
tions, and to all appearances few converts
were made.
ANOTHER MEETING
will be held at the same place at an early
day; and if the cause of temperance is not
benefited, I am of opinion that the business of
Harry Hill will in no wise suffer.
THE BLEAK WINDS OF MARCH
continue to whistle mournful tunes and cause
US to draw our overcoats closer around US, as
we pass through the crowded thoroughfares,
bringing to mind sad thoughts of the suffering
poor of this great city. How many homeless
wayfarers are on the streets tonight, with
nought to screen them from the cold blasts
but the blue canopy Of heaven, and with no
pillow upon which to rest their weary heads,
save the hard fag-stones ofthe pavements, it is
hard to tell. There must be thousands, judg-
ing by the numerous applications as l pass
along, for penny to buy bread, or dime to
procure bed. The suffering among the poor
has been terrible this winter, and am afraid
the end is not yet. Thousands of dollars in
money and necessaries have been contributed
for the relief of the poor, but in consequence
of the villainy of many persons connected
with the societies of relief, much of the chari-
ty thus contributed has been appropriated for
other than the purposes for which it was CIV
en-, and the parties intended to be benefited
suffer in consequence.
THE soUP-HoUsEs.
Vast numbers of people manage to exist by
the charity dispensed at these establishments
in various parts of the city. These houses
are under the personal supervision of benevo-
lent citizens, and the management is very
systematic. There are thirteen of these es-
tablishments in charge of Delmonico, the
celebrated restarateur, and some of them pre-
pare soup for as many as fifteen hundred per-
sons daily. Owing to the great number of
professional paupers, much care Unnecessary to
discriminate between the deserving and the
poor. TO avoid fraud, a COM
mittee make it their business to visit the poor
in their homes and ascertain their needs.
In some instances, persons of excellent char
acter, are found reduced to extreme want, by
the pressure of the times; while others are
paupers from sheer "shiftlessness," and love
for rum. These people would not work if
they had an opportunity, and as matter of
course, are prevented, as far as possible, from
becoming a nuisance and depriving the de-
serving poor of the pittance which they so
much need. HuNK1DoRI.
FooTE's STORY OF Two DUELs WITH SAR-
eEANT S. PRENT1ss.-This is the substance
Of the matter we have heard, as detailed by
Prentiss:
A friend of Prentiss was at the point of