Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-20

essential that they should understand
the practical and ordinary duties of tn,
household, than to be proficient in thei
music and the waltz.
The young man Of those days would dar,
tn enter upon the voyage OF matrimony
with the affection Of an honest woman a.
his only stock in trade with no fear tina
the trials Of life and possible adversely
would ever shake her devotion or loyalty
and when necessity might require it, she
stood ready and willing TO lend a helping
hand in order to stem the tide Of his mis-.
fortunes.
Then, it was unnecessary for husbands
to turn defaulters and forgers, to retain the
affection Of their wives. Affection, did ]
say Nay, not affection but in order that
their wives might reap the benefits Of their
perfidy and disgrace, and shine in those
circles of society and fashion which in part
is made up from the wages Of sin and
degradation. Affection in such women is
the merest ~pretense-a mockery and Q
sham. II
Those were times when dishonesty in our
legislative halls. or in any department of
OF the Government, was something too ap-
palling for serious contemplation, and he
against whom was cast even the breath of
suspicion, would be consigned to oblivion,
as unworthy of the confidence Of a great
people.
But. what a falling of, "Oh, My Coun-
trymen 7"
The politician Of to-day is considered BY
the populace as a synonym Of fraud and
corruption. The National Capitol is be-
sieged at this moment, with an army of
vampires and birelings, whose only mission
is to plumber and rob the people, and secure
legislation tofurther their own selfish ends.
Every member Of Congress, from Maine to
Oregon. is thoroughly canvassed by this
ring of corruptionists. in order that his
weaknesses if any may be discovered.
and then, Immediately, every available
method is resorted to in order to secure his
support to this robbery, under the forms
OF law. In every official department OF the
Government, plumber and defalcation ire
so common and notorious that they do not
excite even serious comment. The hungrY
tramp takes, without leave, a dusty gar
ment to hide his naked form from the gaze
OF the populace, and he is forthwith con-
victed and placed in the chain gang upon
our public streets but the high official
steals a ''cool hundred thousand from the
pockets Of the people, aud his wife is the
leader of society and fashion, and he is
considered q worthy subject for official
promotion.
At the present day, too, the ladies of
society seem to consider il beneath their
dignity to soil their delicate hands with
the domestic economy of their households.
Indeed it not u~nfrequently happens that
men are driven to crime aud suicide as the
result Of their endeavors to secure to their
wives and children a lie of Incidence.
Nowadays a young man, before he en-
tiers upon the sea Of matrimony, must see
to it that his bank account is in a healthy
condition; and If he assume that relation
without being able to support the style Of
Mr.. Jones, his banker. we soon find his
name docketed upon the calendar as the
defendant in an action for divorce. So
common, indeed. has grown this system Of
divorce, as the result Of pecuniary embar-
rassment, that few young men nave suffi-
cient nerve to take a chance in what may
now be considered the lottery of wedlvck.
The result is that many, aye thousands.
of the best men of the present day belong
to that class commonly known as the old
bachelor fraternity who, we're it not for
the evils l have mentioned, would make
kind and iudulgent husbands, and spare
US from the infection of that grand army
Of old maids. whose mission on earth has
been a puzzle to the philosophers of all ages,
from the creation of the world 10 the pres
ent time. Moreover, the youth of this gen.
Grafton seem welded to the delusion that
labor is nndignihed, and that to secure q
livelihood at the mechanics bench, in the
workshop, or by the pillow is ~unbecoming a
born freeman. Hence it Is that the sons
of the farmer and mechanic abandon the
pursuits Of their sires and crowd into our
cities, III the hope of securing an easier
and more genteel occupation than that
which requires the attributes Of bone and
muscle.
lnsy had not the warning OF Goldsmith,
when he said
Ill fares the land to fastening ills a prey,
When wealth aecumulatrs asd men decay;
Princes and Lords may flourish or may fade,
A breath can make them as a breath has IN sde;
But a bold peasantry, their %couniry's pride,
When once Destroyed eau never be Supplied
This class of idlers crowd into our cities,
and consider it a greater mark OF distinc-
ton to exc out a miserable existence from
the charity Of industry, or the ingenuity Of
crime, than to earn an honest penny in
some legitimate and honorable calling.
Again l charge that modern society is
responsible, in a great degree, for the
alarming and rapid growth Of that king Of
all neutrality-suspicious.. This may be con-
sidered a bold and, by some. an unwar-
ranted assertion. But, to those who are
disposed to question its correctness, l de-
sire 10 direct their attention to the prac-
tees of modern social gatherings and en-
tertainments in high life. and then answer
me, if the wine cup is not the most notice
aha faa D, 70 in thar ayArttn0 aSrtVIftau
Indeed, a fashionable reception at the
present day, without being seasoned with
an unlimited flow Of champagne, and other
intoxicating beverages, would be considered
an exceedingly dry and stupid affair. So
universal has grown the custom of wine
suppers and genteel debauchery, that mod
crate inebriety is looked upon as a mark CT
good breeding, aud a social quality to be
admired in both sexes.
And l affirm that il is no uncommon oc-
currence in our larger cities to witness the
bellies Of society returning from u round OF
revelry in some fashionable resort, shame
fully intoxicated, and unsexed by two fire.
uuent indulgences in the flowing bowl.
And this depiorable condition, sad though
1t be, is not the worst and most important
bearing Of this vice OF intemperauce as
practiced by our social circles. But it is the
lmmoral influence which II exerts over the
lesser grades of society in the other walks
o. life. Tie pgrnicious example of those
whose influence should be exert,d to elevate
mankind and rescue the less cultivated and
ignorant Of our race from the SHARES and
wiles Of intemperance, is the most insuper-
able barrier by which the laborer in this
cause is confronted. When the unfortunate
and deluded victim is approached by the
advocate OF moderation, and upbraided for
surrendering his ambition aud manhood,
AS a prey to thus unnatural and damnabie
propensity for strong drink, he is invariably
referred to those distinguished ladies and
gentlemen; these leaders of society, If you
please, who are guilty Of the Same acts Of
folly. and this, in his Judgment, lends an
air of respectability, u sort OF moral license
to this greatest of human foes-inebriety.
But, l am led to inquire, is there no rem
adv fur these threatening and growing evils,