The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-12-13
Friday. Dec. 13, 1889.
A Good Templar Dream.

light oyer the upturned faces of the excited
and FACILITATING audience, as speaker after
speaker rose In his place and added 70 the
fires Of enthusiasm more burning words,
the stamping of feet and clapping of hands
attesting the full measure of earnest SYM
pathy which passed like an electric thrill
from heart to heart, fusing the whole au-
dience to glowing mass of intense prohi-
billion fever.
Suddenly l was lifted up, up higher and
higher above and away from the audience.
The lights fickered in the thickening haze,
the voices of the speakers died away to a
murmur, the stamping aud clapring grew
more and more faint, till the late scene ap-
peared to rest in a valley beneath my feet,
oyerhung by misty haze. Far above the
valley had been translated to the top of a
high mountain, from whose base stretched
vast plain filled with groves and fountains,
above which glistened church spires of the
towus and villages clustered among the
gardens. All over that plain, on my right
hand and on my left, before and behind me,
from the base of the mountain beneath my
feet, and reaching away, away into the dim
distance burned brightly innumerable fires.
While / stood gazing with admiration on
the luminous landscape before me, l felt
some one touch my elbow. Turning l be.
held female with golden hair and mild
sweet face. Her sorrowing eyes had far
away look in them in which hope and fear
were blended. Without further ceremony
she addressed me:
"You admire the beautiful landscape be-
fore you" 81 was admiring the beautiful
prospect replied, land thinking how
happy must be the people who dwell in this
paradise of beauty" AS pronounced these
words in praise of the country which rolled
and sparkled at our feet, my strange COM
panion heaved deep sigh while her ten
der, Glowing eyes filled with tears. I en-
deayored 10 comfort her with kind words,
inquiring whence she came and whose gen.
tie presence had so suddenly appeared be-
side me. She replied:
81 am the genius of Good Ten larism.
Do you hear those sounds issuing from the
valley over which hangs the veil of haze?''
replied, II hear the sound of voices speak
ing and singing; of clapping hands and
stamping, of a great multitude"
That is Good Templars LODGE" she
replied, tower which l watch and weep
"But why do you watch and weep" l
asked.
81 watch,' she replied, with a sigh,
''lest those fires you see shall destroy my
jewels, and l weep because hope deferred
maketh the heart SICK
"What are those fires that you should
fear them?"
"Those fires you see burning on every
hand are saloons, and they are fed and KEPT
bright with human beings. The young anc
the old, the braye and the fair are cast into
them. Night and day their fpmes are KEEP
bright by these human sacrifices"
6Ao pSbt my SoHS AioiS SdihSFilJ Ol tiS
plain where the fires were burning, human
beings began to appear wandering about il
an aimless way, manifesting signs of I'M
neasiness, many OF distress and all of uncer
tainty. This excited my interest still more
and scanned the plain more intently. b
tie lurid light Of the fires could distin-
guish dark masses of men pouring ont of th'
saloons, and forming in serted ranks will
captains at their head, shouting and direct
ing the movements. Turning to my COM
panion l asked her the meaning of the sud
den tumult saw on the plain. She replied
This is what they call election day OF
the plain. The saloon is pouring out it
well drilled legions to contest for the mas
terry of the government"
AS the dark lines approached perceived
that the officers all wore the regalia of the
saloon They had red, swollen noses, blood
shot eyes, bloated cheeks, sodden faces and
rotund stomachs. Diamonds flashed on theil
breasts, and their language was full of LOUD
oaths and coarse abuse of their men. The
color bearers carried red banners on which
was inscribed "High License" "Personal
Liberty" "No Sumptuary and Sunday
Laws"
Turning TO my companion l inquired
"Who are those persons that wander about
the plain, and appear to have no leader ia
direct them?" She said: "AIas. these are
Good Templars, Moral Suasionlsts, walters
on public sentiment to form them into ranks
and direct their movements. Many of them
are ministers Of the gospel and church
members"
| perceived these people were all inlell-
gent looking, well dressed and genteel APP
pearipg, and on their collars each wore q
badge with an inscription which | could no
decipher from where we stood. ! asked my
companion, ''What word is that see OF
the badges of those good people?"
"That inscription you see on the badge.
is the name of the party to which they be-
long. The officers of their parties havt
their headquarters in the saloons you SCI
blazing over the plain. When the mali
line comes up the officers will order eacl
one into his allotted place in the ranks"
On the outskirts of the plain saw anoth
err thin, attenuated line, formed in squads
and groups, with wide spaces between, ant