Year: 1874

| lOhloJ correspondence OF the st. Louis
Democrat


The temperance work is marvellous
in the sight Of men. What influences
have been at work or what agencies
have been employed in other villages
know not. But as for Oxford,
believe that there is no accounting for
it on any other principal than as an
answer to the prayers of Christian
women. No speakers from abroad
have visited us, and our clergymen are
our only speakers, and their forte is
not in arousing public enthusiasm
On the other hand, one Of the most
prominent Of them is provokingly slow,
so slow that we have sometimes feared
he would hold in check the entire
work. The last week was observed by
Christians as week of prayer and or
ganization. Mass meetings were held
on Wednesday and Saturday evenings,
at the latter of which the great num-
Der present and the expression Of pub
lie sentiment showed an astonishing
advance ia moral tone and Christian
courage.


On Monday the sun shone brightly
and the streets were covered with snow
and ice. After an hour of prayer
band of fifty noble woman, inspired
with common purpose, moved quiet
ly and with dignity, and in modest ap-
parel and demeanor, and called at the
rum-hole known as HelPs Kitchen"
where, one week before, its proprietor
had beaten a lad we'll known in the
village. The ladies were politely re-
celved by the proprietor, and as soon
as they had all entered be closed the
door, to exclude number of curious
and idle boys and young men that were
assembling to witness this novel srec-
tacle. Among the men and women
beholding the approach and entrance
of their mothers, their wives, their
sisters, and their daughters to the
saloon, there was quiet, calm. prayer
ful bearing; not word of derision of
the woman, nor harsh word against
the saloon-keerers. And in all this
movement | have mingled freely with
all classes, and must bear witness to
the power of devoted woman in Sc
curing order among the disorderly and
commanding the respectful hearing Of
men whom the public consider destitute
Of manliness aud refinement.


The ladies asked the proprietors and
his wife and his customers present to
take the pledge, which was declined.
The ladies pleaded with them, and
besought them as only Christian women
can, and asked if they might pray and
sing and read some Scripture there,
which request was cheerfully granted
After these exercises the ladies thank
ed the proprietor and retired, he in-
viting them to call again.


The toughest soaker, of the village.
and old dram-seller, once the proprietor
of the only drinking place in Oxford
but now too besotted and poor to run
one, was found there, and says II
thought would braze it out /; but [
began to feel mighty shaky when them
n;ce-looking ladies sang the first time.
| sidled up to the wall SO they would
not see me shake. Purity soon white
haired old woman began to poke up a
prayer for Gid Bark 1.-THE pet name of
the saloon-keeper], and his wife and
us fellers, and you bet [ had to git up
and dust"


The reception here encouraged the
ladies. The ice was broken and they
were fully committed to the work.
You may say the "war has actually


egun." They visited in turn the
next three saloons on the north side of
the public square. One of these the
proprietor had closed and taken refuge
in the bosom Of his family to avoid
this meeting At the third saloon the
proprietor and his wife were melted to
tears when the ladies besought them
for the sake Of their children, of whom
they have three, to abandon their busl-
ness. The man said he knew his busi-
ness was not an honorable one, and
his wife had entreated him to quit it
But what was he to do? The ladies
told him they would see that neither
he nor his family should want and
would belp him into other business.
And this is but the sentiment OF our
people.


The ladies passed next to the finest
saloon in the village. They knocked
at the door, but itfwas locked against
them. They knelt on the steps, and
in the melting snow good mother In
Israel, seventy five years old, prayed
for the rum-seller and bis family in
such simplicity and tenderness that
many ragged man was moved to tears.


The ladies sang and moved on to
the next saloon, where they were kind
ly received. and the owner of the bar
and building confessed he was ashamed
of his business, and would abandon it
as soon as he could get into any other
occupation. The good women encour-