What a Rum-Seller Contributes to Society

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 14, 1865

What a Rum-Seller Contributes to Society.

We find the following in an exchange, without any indication to its origin. It presents the business of the liquor dealer in striking contrast with trades which are useful and honorable:

Every individual in society is expected to contribute something to its advancement and interest. We remember to have read, years ago, of a company of tradesmen, who had united themselves together in a mutual benefit society, and each one had to relate what he could contribute to its support. First the blacksmith came forward and said:

'Gentlemen, I wish to become a member of your association.'

'Well, what can you do?'

'Oh, I can iron your carriages, shoe your horses, and make all kinds of implements.'

'Very well; come in, Mr. Blacksmith.'

The mason applied for admission into the society.

'And what can you do, sir?'

'I can build your barns and houses, stables and bridges.'

'Very well, come in; we can not do without you.'

Along comes the shoemaker, and says:

'I wish to become a member of your society.'

'Well, what can you do?'

'I can make boots and shoes for you.'

'Come in, Mr. Shoemaker, we must have you.'

In turn all the different trades and professions applied, till lastly an individual came in who wanted to become a member.

'And what are you?'

'I am a rum-seller.'

'A rum-seller! and what can you do?'

'I can build jails and prisons, and poor houses.'

'And is that all?'

'No, I can fill them; I can fill your jails with criminals, your prisons with convicts, and your poor-houses with paupers.'

'And what else can you do?'

'I can bring the gray hairs of the aged to the grave with sorrow; I can break the heart of the wife, and blast the prospects of the friends of talent, and fill the land with more than the plagues of Egypt.'

'Is that all you can do?'

'Good heavens!' cries the rum-seller; 'is not that enough?'