The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-13
From Seneca.
SENECA. April 10. 1873
o. F.. Is.


We hear daily of vast temperance meetings
in ncghboring towns, and we of Seneca, hav-
ing no wish to be behind the times, have en-
gagged an earnest worker in the cause-GeOrge
WoOdtOrd of POntac-to talk temperance" to
us this week Notwithstanding the inclement
weather on Tuesday evening, and the gale-a
remnant of March hurled back upon us-the
speakers words were addressed to full house.
and Underhills hall full of people means a
gOod many. The audience represented all
grades of society here, from the elite down 10
we'll, the unfortunates, in whose behalf Il
mighty effort is being made TO fight and cdn-
gltsh the giant evil of our day. Mr.. w. is an
honest, earnest man. whose every word is from
the heart, and we are very sure goes to the
heart, and he having experienced all the llls
of which incompetence is the cause, Is thorough
Incompetent to handle the subject, and what is
more, he can sympathize heart and soul with
the man who is in bondage to King Alcohol
Not only are his uttcrances mpassioned, plead
ING, pathetic as he is moved by emotion, but
Tuesday evenings talk showed Us that irony
is a weapon which he can handle very skllltul-
". He INDUCES IN no bitter sarcasms no
sweeping denunciations against the class whose
profits are made by the liquor traffic, such as
we have been accustomed TO hearing from the
old time temperance lecturers. No, indeed.
Only liquor itself is held up in its proper
light
On Tuesday evening, when the pledge was
prcScnted-and those little thieves, wine and
cider were included in it-no less than sixty
names were signed, and some men carried
home the red ribbon to gladden. the hearts OF
wives and children who were accustomed 10
the signs of-somethng elsc-atter father
had spent the evening out Surely those
wives will say, Thank God, my husband Is
himself now" instead of croaking Hope you
will stick"
On "Wednesday evening the hall was so filled
that many had to stand outside the door. How
ever. the speakers words reached them there,
and they found their way in when the pledge
was produced. 1t was read out by member
OF the Ottawa bar George Blake, who wore
the ribbon. He electrified the younger por-
ton of the audience by stating that he had
" just come from the penitcntiary,' then pals-
ed for cilect--as lawyers are wont TO de-attcr
which he explained that business had called
him to Joliet, &c He further said that afriend
in that city accosted him with, why, George,
YOU look like prize steer just from the fair
Making fun of the ribbon, you see. But Mr.
B. answered. We'll, granted that's the case;
YOU look like a steer that had been to the fair
but rot no prize" Mr. b. judged he had
come out ahead" then proceeded to read the
pledge. and comment iavorably upon the
,lauscs, while Mr. Woodford mingled with
The audience convcrSing genially, and succeed
,d in bringing up some of the hardest to reach
signed away their liberty
10 waste money. Ninety names were added to
he sixty OF the previous evening, and rs We
are only in the Alpha OF the movement we eN-
pect hundreds ere the Omega is reached. More
If this anon Una