Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-01-30
TEMPERANCE CORNER.


tives from the surrounding towns were met
at the depot by delegation of ladies and
gentlemen who greeted them with warm
welcome and the assurance that they had
come 'just at the right time" The whole
community were awake to the subject of
trying to rid themselves Of the monster
that was devastating their town, sending
sorrow and want to families, desOlation
and woe to loving wives, bitter anguish to
tender mothers, and last, but not least,
leaving to innocent children the legacy OF
drunken father.
They are in earnest in their noble work,
and was the penalty of fpeEiury to be visited
upon the first false witness before the grand
jury, doubtless their efforts would be
crowned with success.
The program OF the meetings, as here
tofore published, was carried out with the
addition of effective music from their ex-
| cellent choir. The house was well filed,
both morning and afternoon with ladies
| and gentlemen. At the noon intermission
a nice and bountiful dinner. was served at
the church, which gave the delegates an
opportunity to become acquainted with the
ladies Of our neighboring town.
In the evening Mrs. Woodbridge gave
an excellent address on the cost of intem-
perance to our nation, and at the close
spoke of the earnest meeting of delegates
at Columbus the first ot January, what
was done there, the influence of the present
result, the petitions that are circulating all
over our State praying the legislature to
enact local-option. anti-liquor law allow
ing all-both male and female-Over the
age of 81, either by petition or ballot, to
say whether liquor shall be sold in our
towns, counties or State.
Thursday morning social meeting was
held in the parlor of Mrs. Holt, where prac-
tical temperance work and unfermented
wine for communion, were themes of dis
oussion. The expression was often heard,
''This is the best quarterly meeting we
have had, = and, as we took the parting
hand of our sisters, we felt that it had been
both pleasant and good for US. and only re-
gretted that larger number of our Ashta-
bula ladies had not been with us and made
feel as we felt, that the Saviour was saying
to us ''Awake thou that sleepest, arise from
the dead and Christ will give thee light.
What he says to us he is saying to every
lover of good order in our community, and
especially to his professed children. Will
you sleep on until you are bound hand and
foot by those who are causing poverty, sor-
row and death. who even defy the laws of
our city and dare the injured to bring them
to justice.
will tell you story, pitiful and true.
Three years ago man, poor and addicted
to drink, was persuaded by his good indus-
trious wife to 90 with her to the Murphy
meeting and take the pledge. His did.
His pledge was faithfully kept, he was in
dustrious and they became a comfortable,
happy family. a daughter too delicate in
health to be from her mothers care, and
son who is a comfort to his mother COM
pleted their family circle. By industry and
economy they had accumulated the sum of
$l60 and were happy in the thought that
little sum was laid by for a rainy day.
But men there Were-or those in the form
of men-who like Satan said, ''First, will
walk round and no corner leave unspied."
A few weeks since one came to this home
and persuaded the husband to go to his in
famous den, there he tempted again that
appetite which the sober man had so long
conquered. Day by day he now found his
way there, and the precious sum they had
so carefully saved was fast finding Its way
to the enemy's till. Another, as base as
the first tempter, by promise of little
work brought him to his saloon. This was
nearer the late happy home, just IN sight,
and the temptation was still stronger, and
day and night he found his way there.
And when, after long, long waiting, the
faithful wife has sought him there. Denial
and abuse have been heaped upon her.
Still a little way beyond is another saloon,
whose proprietor q few years ago was one
of our business men, an excellent workman,
who by his just dealing and gentlemanly
department commanded the respect of our
community. There, a few nights since,
the sorrowing wife sought and found her
poor, deluded husband. Did the keeper
meet her with human sympathy and kind
word? He heaped upon her insult and abuse
even took her husband into one corner of
the room, would not let her come near or
take him home. To use her own words,
''He abused and insulted me terribly, dared
me to bring him to justice, said he cared
not for officers they can't do anything with
me-"
We boast of our laws for the protection
of the innocent and the punishment of the
guilty. Are they to be a dead letter? Were
half the energy put forth to execute these
laws as is exercised when you elect men to
make our laws, such deplorable state of
things would not exist with US.
Our beautiful city has become plague
spot. Mothers in our neighbOring towns
dread even to have their sons pass through,
for, in the transit from one depot to the
other, the appetite long restrained has been
teIApted, pledges, for months faithfully
kept, broken, carrying sorrow to the hOme
and deep, deep grief known only to the
mothers heart. Wives whose husbands are
kind, temperate and Industrious when not
tempted by saloons, dare not let them come
here, even on business. unless as guardian
angels they come with them. Where is our
boasted moral strength? Shall we longer
fold our arms and let Ashtabn!a become a
bYword amp reproach?
Report as given of the temperance work
in Ashtabula at the W. Q. 7. U:
Il regret that cannot give you favor
able report of the temperance work in Ash
tabula. Saloons have increased upon US
and its attendant evils. Keeling victims
are often seen in our streets. WHY'S this?
Because the friends of good order, and es-
specially protesting Christians. have been
sitting with folded arms instead Of being
engaged in the temperance work. We all
know that we're we all engaged in this sub
iect such state would not exist. Last
Sabbath evening we had the privilege of
listening to very interesting lecture from
Mrs. Woodbridge. The Methodist church,
which will hold between five and six hun
dred, was filled to overhowing. This, to
us is a very encouraging proof that, not
withstsnding the apparent indifference Of
our people, a strong temperance element
exists in our community.
The fact of the number Of saloons exist
ing in our city, including the depot and
harbor, was derived from other sources
than direct report" NJ.
LIFE INsURANCE-Mr D. A. Keyes, of
Cleveland, Gen. Agent, of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company Of New York, made
us a call, on Wednesday last. to give us