The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-02-22

Presently the table cloth was spread
on the ground; and upon it were
placed viands Of the rarest kinds and
prepared in every way possible; wines
of every havors; fruits Of all the kinds
Ipeculiar to those regions and finally
pastries Of different qualities. The
invited guest sat around and ate with
a good appetite; the wines were not
less cared for than the food. It must
be avowed that the ladies kept, as
usual, their wits and INDUCED but
very little in the drink. The men on
the contrary drank copiously; particu.
larly Alberto, who INDUCED in it to
such All excess, that when the repast
was over his mind and ideas were
clouded.
A sail On the sea had been proposed
for the evening, but it would have
passed unnoticed, had not our host
been reminded of it by don Julio, his
most intimate friend and companion
in like amusements. Soon the horses
were attached to the buggies, the host
and guests resumed their seats and
once more are found travelling towards
their favorite place of amusement
the sea.
On arriving at the shore they found
the Mediterranean calm and the boats
which they had engaged for the eve
ming awaiting them. Again the mer-
ry company left their seats in the We
hicles in order to occupy more COM
Portable one in the boats. The boat
men cast off from the shore and the
young ladies began to sing their favo-
rite melodies and comical airs. Per-
haps the Mediterranean had never
before heard upon its waters so many
sweet voices. The boats themselves
appeared charmed by these songs and
whilst leaping over the waves seemed
to be beating time for these young la
dies, rather than have their course
disturbed by the dashing of waves.
But Joy often gives place to sorrow,
in an instant; and so it happened with
our party. As Alberto was yet under
the influence of liquor, he was unable
to keep his equilibrium, still he per-
sisted, regardless of the admonitions
of his friends, in standing up in the
boat; the consequences were he fell
headlong into the deep blue waters Of
the Mediterranean.
A cry Of despair was then heard,
the joyful songs were changed to, dole
full weeping; the sweet sounding words
of love ceased and sorrowful eiacula-
tions replaced them. Regardless of
their elegant dresses and costly jewels,
the men leaped into the water, and at
the perils Of their own lives they swan
about, in hopes Of recovering their
drowning friend, but all seemed use
less. When they were beginning to
give way to despair God permitted
Alberto to rise once more to the sur
face of the water. They perceived
him and though distance Of fifty
feet separated them from him, they
gathered strength and in a few seconds
his ever true, friend Julio had placed
his hands upon him. But how great
was his surprise to find that Alberto
was among the number of those that
were no more. He dragged the body
towards the boats and when he reach
ed them. placed the cold remains of
his friend in the same boat where Al
.berto's future wife was seated. She
who, but a but a few minutes ago had
been exchanging her sentiments Of
love for his; she, who with SO much
confidence had placed in him her fu-
ture happiness, now finds him at her
side-a corpse.
We have before us the effects Of
intemperance, the consequences Of the
miserable glass which can rightly be
called the destroyer Of the interior
man. How many Of those poor crea-
lures who are doomed to suffer hell's
eternal FIRE have bargained their souls
away to this destroyer Of Gods crea-
ture for a small quantity Of this alco-
holic mixture!
Those poor fathers of families, who,
are as it were, captiyated by this era
wing passion, have their wives and
children in q pitiful state. How often
does it happen that poor and feeble
children spend full days without tast-
ing morsel Of bread; and the moth
ers, though courageous by nature,
have their hearts wrenched, as it were,
by the pains which their suffering In
fants cause them! Had not God tax
en- Alberto before his marriage, this.
young woman might have become
one Of those wretched persons: for
when the fatal cup has once been
tasted we know not how far it will.
lead man. 81
But let us return to our poor Alber-
to. The funeral rites took place the
next day. a large gathering Of peo-
pie followed his remains rich and
moor blended together and All seemed