Year: 1870

The latest device for robbing fellow-pas-


senger in railway car, is said to be the pre-


sentation of drugged cigar, the smoking of


which makes the victim stupid or drowsy, and


facilitates the rifiing Of his pockets. This may


be the truth, or it may be suspicion; or it may


be some neophyte in the cloud-compellIpg bust


ness, has simply found travelling companion


who affected stronger tobacco than himself.


1t is not worth while to 20 through the world


suspecting everybody; but it is as well to be


on your guard, and to suspect yourself Watch
that your habits of indulgence do not lead you


to crafty inclination ut eyerybody's invitation.


1t is not strangers who play tha worst "tricks


upon travellers" Nor are all invitations to


"indulge" made with malice prepense. They


are simply the result Of careless compliance


with customs. which are more honored in the


breach than in the observance. He who has


sense enough to determine bis own proper
course, nerve enough to decline to be drawn
from it, and selfpossession, frankness and po-
likeness enough to decline without giving Of
fence, need never fear drugged cigars nor
drugged potatiOns. The "drug" in most cases
is myth; or If it exists at all, is in the stu
pidity Of the person who fancies it. A man
who has already smoked his own pockets clean
needs no drug" in the cigar extra: and the
mar who cannot drink without stupidity needs
no drug" in his potation to make him senseless.


Suspect-that is to say, watch yourself, aud
you will have less need to watch others. The
very weakest style Of man is one who cannot
decline any invitation, of whatever sort, when
he knows that compliance will put him to in
convenience, to say no worse. Most men could
get along very well if they were let alone. 1t
is ones own fault if he is not let alone for he
has simply to decline to be interfered with
Why anybody should be afraid to assert his
own right as to what he shall eat or what he
shall drink-especially as to what he shall
drinks one OF the questions which ought
not to be hard to answer. 1t ID simply want
OF self-assertiOn which weakens the moral
stamina 10 every transaction. Ii reduces o
man to the condition. quantity but strongly
called "do-less." Produce a man who cannot
refuse 10 take "drink" which he does not
desire, and you will see one who has not moral
energy enough to follow his own intentions in
anything else. AS to the man, young or old,
who kHous that to indulge is sure to cause him
sickness or pain. and who yet cannot or will
not deny himself-the case of that man is next
to helpless and unworthy of pity. He can only
rise above the condition of being abiect by a
determined and resolute assertion of himself
He must act the paradox of one who governs
his appetite by confessing that he cannot gov
ern his depraved appetites. There is strong
word in our language which has lost its original
Specification. We say, for instance, that it is
mortifying if one cannot indulge in social
glass" The old moralists used mortify in q
better sense. They would urge him to "m0r-
hfy," that is to kill that inclination, by absti-
nence, which he cannot control by temperance
Let him do this and he will be no more sub.
ject to tricks upon Travellers" either on
the railway or on the city pavement -Phila.
aeiphid Ledger.