West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-08-29
Huntington Letter.

ED. FREEMAN Did you ever at
tend an election, or a big muster
at Middlebourne, Tyler county, w
Va? If so, [ presume you wit.
messed some high times" when
candidates were trying to see which
could buy and give away the most
voting whisky" whisky voted
then as well as now.) Well, in my
boyhood days l would 60 occasional
ly to that old town when "big
time" was expected.
| saw the "duping" process per
formed by political demagogues
Then, after the depraved and vi
tiated appetite had been faithfully
served for a few hours, the poor
creatures would commence fight
ing next, they would scream and
yell; then, last Of all, as a suitable
closing, two men, and sometimes
more, would engage in a dog.
fight"
Well, Tyler county has reformed
oiHCC GIcll, OuG 81 NilIlldI SCcu6 W
that just referred to was witnessed
in this city of Huntington, one
evening recently. Two drunken
demons decided to try each others
pate. 1t being in a saloon where
there were quite pile Of jugs and
beer bottles, the pate of Mr.. S.
came suddenly in contact with a
bottle in the hand of Mr.. D., which
broke the bottle all ''to flinders"
Following this, Mr. S. had only
time to wink once until his head
came in sudden contact with a jug,
which, also, broke into atoms.
By this time there was a bottle
in the hand of Mr., S., whose use
fulness was about to be destroyed
by the pate of Mr.. D., which was
prevented by two other men Gall
Crunk) entering the arena. Just
at this juncture, the curtain drop
ped, leaving an excited crowd surg
ing about on the street. But soon
the police came and arrested the
combatants, took them before the
Mayor, who was SO destitute of
feeling, pity, or mercy, as to i'm
pose fine of the enormous sum of
$1,00 and costs on each guilty par
ty. We are told that when the
empty jugs and bottles began to
torment the head of Mr.. S., that the
keeper of this honorable institu-
ton of West Virginia "vamosed
the rancho"
The scenes of drunkenness that
have been witnessed in this city,
within the last week have been ex-
tremely shocking to man or lady
of any refinement.
A few evenings ago we went to
the Post office and saw a dirty, rag
ged, human animal lying almost in
the door. 1t being at the time of
the evening mail, the ladies were
passing in and out almost continu-
ously. AS we were speaking to a
gentleman of this terrible outrage
upon the decency and respectable
ty of the town, he said, Gas soon as
some one goes to IS saloon and
finds the police, they will remove
him" We we're told that this
poor wretch protested religion
about six months ago, and but for
the saloon would likely be Chris
tian to-day. Yet many who pro-
TESS Christianity are slumbering.
God pity the poor time. serving
church member, who has neither
the manhood nor the grace to come
to the front and swear undying
hostility to the rum-traffic.
Our last monthly temperance
meeting was addressed by Rev. Mr.
Prickitt and Prof. A. L. Purinton
Both addresses we're real good,
and could not fail to impress any
congregation with the true man
hood of the speakers.
At the next meeting, which will
be in September, may there be still
greater interest manifested, A.