Three nights with the Washingtonians / by T.S. Arthur.

  • Arthur, T. S. (Timothy Shay), 1809-1885.
Date:
[between 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Three nights with the Washingtonians / by T.S. Arthur. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    By T. S. Arthur, author of “ Ten Nights in a Bar Boom,” S&c. Night the First.—The Broken Merchant. “Come,” said a friend, one evening to the winter of 1841, “ let ns look in upon the Washingtonians.” “ The Washingtonians ?” I replied. “ And pray, who and what are they ?” u Have yon not heard abont them ?” “ No.” “ Then yon are ignorant of one of the most remarkable facts in the history of the times.” “ Explain yonrself.” ■ “ With pleasure. About nine months ago, perhaps not quite so long, there were assembled in a drinking-house in this city (Baltimore), six men, well advanced in years, who had for a long time been confirmed drunkards, or at least, so wedded to the love of drink, as to have found it almost impossible to live without a daily resort to its stimulating influences. They had met accidentally, or rather, without any other design in repairing to the bar¬ room than that which had taken them there a hundred and a hundred times. But in the mind of each there was a feeling of sorrow for Ms enslaved and wretched condi¬ tion. A strong desire to rise out of it—yet a painful, hopeless sense of weakness. How often, alas! how often had each made resolutions of reform. How often had each renounced the cup of confusion, only to seek again the bewildering draught and to sink still lower in the scale of human degradation! “ Thus they met as they had often met before; but neither seemed inclined to call for the subtle poison that had so many times stolen away their reason. Soon the feelings of each became known to the others, and they felt a sudden hope springing up in their minds—a hope in each one of that little company, that alone he could not stand. But together, shoulder to shoulder, hand to hand, and heart to heart, they felt that though the struggle would be hard, they could, and they would coilquer! “ In that moral pest-house, then, while inhaling with every breath the tempting fumes of the potations they loved,1 did this little band pledge themselves to each other, never again to drink of intoxicating drink—spirits, wine, malt or cider.” j “ They did not keep their pledge, of course,” I said, interrupting him. “ Who ever heard of a confirmed drunkard becoming a sober man? The hope for such a result has long since faded from the minds of the benevo¬ lent, and now all the efforts of temperance reformers are turned to the keeping of sober men from becoming lovers of strong drink. The drunkard will remain a drunkard to the end of his life ; there is no hope for him.” “Do not jump to conclusions quite so hastily,” my friend replied. “ There is hope for the drunkard, let me tell yon. But hear me out patiently. These six men, soon after, they had pledged themselves to each other, determined that they would make an effort to increase their number. They accordingly organised a society, and called it the 1 Washington Temperance Society.' Then they went to some of their old companions, told them what they had done, and invited them to join their so¬ ciety. A few were found to break away from their bond¬ age and unite' with them. Thus their power and influence became increased. Others soon followed their example, and it was not long before the society numbered over one hundred members, each one of whom had been for years in the habit of drinking, and most of them occa¬ sionally to intoxication. “ All this time, each member was using all his powers' of reasoning and persuasion to induce his old companions to come in. Some would, oh the nights of their meetings, station themselves near the grog-shops they had formerly been in the habit of visiting, and intercept those whom they knew, before they had reached the doors they were seeking. Then they would reason with them, and per¬ suade them to come to the society; if not to join, at least to hear. In this way members were added. Such mem¬ bers as had no work, were aided as far as possible, and efforts wqre made to procure work for them. “ And thus the reformation has gone on, and now.1 The Washington Tempo; nice Society’ numbers several hun¬ dred members, nearly every one- of whom had bees, in the habit of drinking t ■ he extent of seriously marring his prospects in life. Every, week they meet regularly, for the reception of new members, and for mutual encour¬ agement. And th< meetings are of a highly interesting nature. Usually, some of the members relate their ex-1 in a high on your imagination. periences, and these are frequently affectin degree.” “ Surely you must be drawing The thing surpasses belief.” , “ I have not told you half. But come. Let us go to the meeting;'this is the regular night.” There was no hesitation, of course. In a few minutes we entered a large room at the corner of Hanover and Lombard-streets, which we found crowded to excess, with men of all ages, mostly mechanics and working-men. We pushed our way close to the speaker’s stand, and then turned to survey the countenances of the assembly. It was a sight to move the heart. There were men, old and grey-headed, and youths scarcely eighteen, into whose very vitals had been fixed the tooth of the de¬ stroyer. Men who had been slaves, some for a. long- series of years, to the most degrading vice. But now they stood up as freemen, aild there was, scarcely a face, marred sadly as some were, that had not an. expression of serious, manly determination and confidence. In a little while after our entrance, the preliminaries of the meeting being over, .several of the members ’succes¬ sively related their experiences. Sometimes these were humorous and amusing; but more frequently they por¬ trayed scenes that touched the feelings, and often drew tears from the eyes. They were the simple unadorned histories of real life, told by the participators in them, and often with an eloquence of tone and manner that stirred the heart to its very depths. To give any of these now is not my design. And ? o we will pass by this part of the meeting, and linger for a ■ few moments over the scene that presented itself when the President invited all who wished to join the society to come forward and sign the pledge, which was read. It was in these words :— “ We whose names are annexed, desirous of forming a society for our mutual benefit, to guard against a per¬ nicious practice, which is injurious to our health, stand¬ ing, and families, do pledge ourselves as gentlemen, that we will not drink any spirituous or malt liquors, wine or cider.” A dead silence then ensued, which lasted only for a moment or two, when a slight noise was heard in a far distant comer of the room. Then there was a motion in the dense crowd, and presently a man was seen coming up the aisle. He was scarcely past,the prime of life, hut had a look of premature old age. His face was so swollen and disfigured, that the eye turned away from it involun¬ tarily. • “ Do you think there is any use in me signing it ? ” he asked, as he paused at the tableton which the books of the society rested, trembling from head to foot, and gazing up, appealingly, into the face of the President. There were few ivho looked upon the wretched being Who did not feel a rising emotion of tenderness and compas¬ sion. “ Yes, I do,” was the prompt and positive reply. “ It is the only thing that can save you. And it will sava you.” “ 0 sir, do you really think so?” “ I know if ! Sign it at once, and you arc a free man.”' “I will, I will! ” the poor creature said, in an earnest- tone, taking the pen that the Secretary held out to him, and putting, with an eager, trembling hand, his name t<* the pledge. “ Abide by that and you are safe,” said the President, smiling. “I will try,” responded the man, and his tones-were steadier, and had something of confidence in them; and he seemed really like a changed being, full of hope Mid resolution, as he turned from the table and mingled in the crowd. Thep came another and another, until forty-nine had signed’the pledge. 1 “Come along! We have room for another one. Wo must have fifty to-night,” said the President, in a loud, cheerful, encouraging tone. “ Come along with us. and we will do you good. Who will make up the fifty ? ” For nearly five infinites the President waited, but mo one, came forward. .Just as the pledge-book was about to be closed, there was a movement near the middle of the room, and then there came, tottering up the aisle, a feeble old man, with a head as white as snow. He seenued at least thrcc-scorc and ten, for he was bent, and leanea