A Specimen of Our Times.
By Z. Nicola
WHAT is the world coming to, when men destroy their health and property by the use of tea, whisky, and tobacco, so that they become paupers, and then there is a tax levied on the more christianized and civilized portion of the community to buy those poisons for them, that they may continue their use? The overseers of the poor-house of Erie Co., N. Y., in making their report, mention the following items: For tea, $300. For whisky and tobacco, $90. This is for one year, making the tax percentage over one-half above last year. Another fact about intoxicating liquors. The number of whisky sellers in Niagara Co., N. Y., the last year, is estimated at 310. It is very difficult to get a lawyer to prosecute one of them, for fear of losing his office or property. This does not look much as though temperance and Christianity were gaining the ascendancy over wickedness. Other kinds of wickedness are increasing. I will give one instance of robbery that recently took place near Lockport, to show how bold men of this class are becoming. Three men went into a house in the evening about 8 o'clock, armed to the teeth. They presented their arms, and commanded the household to stand still and make no noise—if they did, they would murder them. Two of them then stood with arms in hand, guarding the family, while the other searched the house. When they were satisfied, they told the family if they stirred before morning they would murder every one of them. They then took a horse out of the stable, harnessed him to a carriage, and drove off. They have not been heard from since. These are a few facts from which we can judge something of the direction in which the world is progressing. Z. NICOLA.
East Rush, N. Y.