A Fearful Picture by W. C. G.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1872

A Fearful Picture.

By W. C. G.

THE BOSTON Herald presents the following startling but truthful description of the times upon which we have fallen. The picture is no less truthful than vivid, and may be regarded as a portent of perils more alarming and significant only just ahead of us, while “evil men and seducers” are waxing “worse and worse.” W. C. G.

“Reportorial pictures portraying the curiosities of crime, as they are brought out from day to day, are constantly harrowing the minds of the people, and causing the Christian and law-abiding citizen to fear and tremble, not for himself and his alone, but even for the safety of his country, where crime is sweeping through every avenue of society and making fearful wrecks in all ranks and among the old and the young of both sexes. The horrible outrage that for an hour startles us to-day is perchance to-morrow suddenly o’ershadowed by some bloody or more revolting deed, so that by degrees people seem to be growing more and more indifferent to these horrible outrages that are chronicled by the pen of the reporter, while his readers sleep or are engaged in the active duties of life. Arson comes swiftly behind the footsteps of the burglar, death overtakes the victim of the highwaymen in our streets, murder hastens with stealthy hand to wash in blood the innocent victims of some man’s lust and deceit, while the knife, the bullet, or the subtle poison of the assassin is at work day and night all over the land.”