The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-05-09
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
EDITED BY A LADY. Z
PERSONAL NOTES.
NO. DISCONTINUED.

The courtroom was crowded The history Of
tho case was known far and wide, and awak-
ened general interest. Eminent counsel was
engaged, and many lawyers who had known
him offered their services. The verdict was
guilty Of manslaughter, in the-degree,
but recommended to the mercy of the Court,
The Judge said as the prisoner had been
recommended to mercy, it should be the light
est allowed by law-- Estate prison for the term
of two years. The foreman of the jury APP
preached the mother Of the young man and
with kindly words tried to console her. say
ing, without doubt the Governor would soon
be induced to pardon her SON
But they were unheard BY her, for she re-
nembered that The first glass Of pins soas
drank IN has house. and his daughter sods Tho
tempter. The next day Deputy Sheriff with
the young man and a friend entered close
carriage and were taken to the Hudson river
depot and were hurried in the cars for Sing
Sing. Arrived at Sing Sing, the young man
was fastened out, when a gaily dressed young
la dy brushed against him. He Immediately
recognized her as Deacon ----'s daughter
with whom he drank his first glass Of soine and
muttered through clenched teeth, Viper"
The warden knowing his history, assigned
him the position of book-keeper in one of the
departments But nothing could save him
from the hated prison clothes. An ague fit
passed over him as he arrayed himself in the
garb of his deep degradation. He had been
there but a short time when his mother, ac-
companied by a friend, came to see him.
With difficulty she recognized her son in his
changed attire, and shavcn of his beautiful
hair.
But the young man saw greater change
in his mother. Her step was slow and feeble.
Deep lines marked her sad face Her breath
came slowly. The interview was short--neith-
er could endure it.
In her basket she brought many little ar
ticles to add to his comfort, many little tokens
of love. As she was about to leave she drew
him gently towards her and said My son,
shall not come again to see you. My
strength is going very fast and feel that
have made my last journey Very soon
shall be beside your father. And now my
child will you try to meet me in Heaven look
ing to Jesus for forgiveness and help" Clasp
ing his mother in his arms he burst into tears
and said g Mother, can say, the chief Of
sinners am, but Jesus died for me.
The mother held him in one long embrace
and then departed--fo forever! She was found
the next morning dead in her bed.
When the sad tidings reached the young
man he settled into deep melancholy. For
few days he performed his duties mechani-
cally, not needing or speaking to any around
him, and soon fell i'll of fever. In his de-
lirium, raving necessarily of his "lost
mother " and "viper, was viper =
meaning the young lady who first persuaded
him to take glass of wine. A friend who
with the mother had been with him through
all was informed of his illness. He came and
spent the night by his bedside listening to
his raving. In the morning he died. The
remains were taken to his former home, and
few friends followed to the Cypress Hill
Cemetery and laid him beside his father and
mother
This is no fancy sketch. We could give
you the street where this young man lived,
the sabbath school where in boyhood and
| youth be was trained to virtue and religion,
where he was considered one of the brightest
ornaments, and the church to which he be-
longed.
THIS case clearly process that young man
Of unerceptionat character, unusual talent and
envtable position Is not safe.
PRoHIBITIoN OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN
MAINE.-More than quarter of century
ago, the people of Maine resolved that the
liquor traffic was in deadly hostility to every
interest of the state, and they prohibited it
by stringent provisions Of law. 1t being a
trade from which no possible good came, but
only infinite harm, they did not adopt the
weak and foolish device Of limiting the extent
nf it, and regulating it by license, but of an
absolute and crushing prohibition and sup
preston, as a thing wholly and altogether
bad.
The favorable effect of this policy may be
seen by the most casual observer in every
part of the state, in the improved condition
of the people and in the greater prosperity of
every branch of industry. No one who knew
what Maine was before the law, aud knows
what it has been since, and up to the pres
ent lime, can fail to see the wonderful inn
provement that has taken place in every de-
partment of social life.
The drink bill of the people of the United
States is now 700, 000 600 of dollars. Names
proportion of the cost and loss in the liquor
trade would be almost 27,000,000 aud the
people Of the state used to consume their full
share of strong drink. But the actual loss OF
the state by the liquor traffic now, would be
more than covered, SO far as money goes, by
! 2, 100000 of dollars, and the difference be-
tween the twenty-seven millions and the two
millions, we have In our pockets, in our bust
ness and in the annual accommodating wealth
of the state. The effect of this is clearly seen
in the fact, that Maine has suffered far less
than other states from the present financial
crisis.
| The liquor traffic has been completely ex-
PEELED from all the smaller towns and villages,
and from the rural districts Of the state, boz
cause the penalties of the law are sufficient to
extinguish the small rumsellers.who infested
such places. But the traffic fingers to some
extent in few of the larger cities and towns,
carried on secretly by the lowest and viest OF
our foreinn population. The penalties Of ii