University of South Carolina Libraries
THE BANNER, t i 1 l WEEKLY. | ; ! 1 Vol. III. Abbeville G. H., S. C, August 5, 1846. No. 23 j Published every Wednesday Morning, by ALLEN <fc KERR. $1 eto 2T c t* in ?. ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY P.T?.1MTS :? ?1 * VW1 4 U |?<;i auuuui) 11 |#U1U wtlllin IIITCC tnoaths from the time of subscribing, or TWO DOLLARS after that time. No subscription received for less than sixmonths; nnd no paper discontinued until all arrearages are paid, except at the op~ tion of the editor. Subscriptions will be continued, unless notice be givn otherwise previous to the close of the volume. (Written for the Abbeville Banner.) CHARLES BORDEN; O R, " IT IS THE FIRST STEP THAT COSTS." BY PETREL. Persons brought up in the country, can scarcely realize or believe the number, the variety, or the seductive character, of the temptations, presented to the ifnnri rr in lavrrn pitioc nr\y n tlint* y uuii^ in luigu UJIIUO j iiui uuu intj UU too grateful to Providence, for having cast their lots amongst groves and fields, where the first impressions made upon the minds of their 'offspring, instead of being vitiated, false and corrupted, by an early contact with vice, like the serpent, in Eden, clothcd in most beautiful colors, are pure, just, and holy, and from an intimate acquaintance with nature, they instinctively turn to Nature's God. Amongst the multitude of snares thus set by Satan, and their name is legion, none is more dangerous or fascinating, to the inexperienced, than the Theatre. Like all other vices, its mischevious tendency is greatly increased by using false colors h nil nnnonrnnpno rP/-? ?Vio nmrM if MII\A U^/^/WMAWLtVUW? A, V <UV UVllUj 1 V would palm itself off, as the Temple of the Muses ; a school, to teach a knowledge of the world and mankind ; a nursery of talent, and ol oratory; when in reality, it is but the entrance, to the gin palace, the gambling room, and the brothel house. Countenanced too, as it is, by many of the wealthy, and fashionable, who give it the sanction of their presence, it becomes more baneful in its effects ; for many a well educated piously inclined youth, who would shrink with horror, from the thought of seeking the intoxicating draught, the gambler, or the courtesan, will unhesitatingly enter the theatre, and not until bitter experi ence has compelled'him to acknowledge the truth of what I have written, and when it is too late believe that " It is the. first step that costs" I will give one instance, that came within my own experience.?Charles Borden, was an orphan ; the only hope and stay, of a fond and devoted mother ; whose every thought and aspiration, 1 .1 I i* <* ? was cenierea in me wenare 01 ner aar-' ling child, and well was that child by nature calculated to inspire love, and repay with interest, the fondness thus lat_ _ J 1 _ _ T1 ? ' vjsnea upon mm. rus aisposnion was gentle, and affectionate; his thoughts pure, his passions well regulated; and all the energies of his mind, and body were bent, and strained, to minister to the wants of his widowed mother; for they were poor. His highest ambition was by his own exertion, to place her in the affluence, from which the death of his father had reduced her. At the age of thirteen, he had obtained a situation in one of the largest commercial houses >n the city, where by his unremitting industry, and attention, he had gained the complete confidence of his employer, land by the suavity of his manners and his obliging disposition, he had a friend in every customer of the house; thus for three years, did he avoid every temptation and immorality?spending all his leisure time at home, and the Sabbath was always spent in the service of the Most High. But the tempter was on the watch, apd one cold winter's evening, as Charles was on his way home from the counting room, accompanied by two fellow-clerks, youths a^out his own ? 1 * -r .1 . uui in me iqil gfowr^stature of men. ^.depravity, he ww dpmpeUed to pass by the fashionable thea^e ^unfortunate^ ly, it wai as the flami0$ placards announced, a night of flhusual attraction, Mr. FoajtEeT, the celebrated tragedian, was to perform one of his original and most popular characters. . - v The doors had just opened, and the bright, the beautiful, the virtuous daughters of the aristocracy, with the judges, the doctors, and the millionares of the city were jostling the painted, bedizened, and shameless harlot, the loafer, and the pickpocket, as they crowded through the passage in their eagerness to obtain seats. Charles's companions determined to go in, and he bid them 1 :.L .i-- r yuuu iii^iu, wuii uio mienuon 01 going home, but they would not hear to it, lie must come in with them, for they liked not the reproof of his example. They insisted, he refused, and would have left them had they not each taken hold of an arm and detained him by main force. Whilst they were thus debating, Mr. Kimball, the gentleman in whose employ they all were, passed with his wife, and daughter, and bowing to them, entered the theatre. The companions of Charles made use of Mr. Kuiballs example as a convincing proof, that there was nothing to be dreaded in going; and he knowing Mr. K. to be a man of the strictest morality, and feeling assured that he would not visit, or countenance any thing, he thought improper?at last consented, and the three young men entered the dress circle, already crowded by the beauty and fashion of the city. The play commenced, and Charles was delighted, and bewildered ; the lights, the crowd, the music, the actors, the scenery, it was all new to him, he would havft bp.p.n wiliinor fr? linwo romninorl .. ??0 W .WMIUIUVU motionless, until the end of the performance, but not so his companions, to them it was an old story, dry and familiar, and after the curtain dropped for the first act, they craved something more exciting, and dragging- Ciiaules along they sought the drinking saloon. He, though earnestly solicited, would drink nothing but lemonade; his friends, to show their manhood, tossed off strong brandy slings, and both again locking arms with him, before he knew where he was going, 'ound himself in the saloon of the third Tier, filled, as it always is, with the dissipated, the vile, and the hardened, of both sexes. (Jiiarles was both shocked and frightened, and would have instantly retreated, but one of those squabbling fights so frequent in such places, commenced in the passage behind him, and he sat down on a settee in a corner to wait until the road was clear, and then make his way down, but he was hardly seated, before a girl, neatly, and plainly dressed, whose age could not have exceeded seventeen. and whose face hf?d once been of surpassing loveliness, though already r...i_ .1 i ' niuuu uy sorrow ana excess, placed tierself oil the setlee within few feet of him ; he looked round at first, involuntarily; but there was so much distress depicted on the girl's countenance, she seemed to be suffering so much, either physically, or mentally, he could not tell which, that the natural kindness of his heart instinctively, prompted him, to speak to her: he asked with sympathy in his voice, what ailed her, why she I.. - 1 11 ? 1 * * " * ' looKea so saa ? sne tola him such a pitiful tale, of want, sickness and woe, that all his benevolent feelings were enlisted in her behalf, and the girl shortly after complaining of faintness, and debility, forgetful of himself and his own character, and only thinking of relieving a suffering woman, he offered to accompany her home, she of course was apparently ... i veiy yiaieiui, nnu ll was not Until Charles found himself within sight of home, that he thought of the culpability of his conduct, and the anxiety he must have given his kind mother, who met him as he put his foot on the door step, rejoiced at his return, for he had promised to be home early, and she had been very uneasy at his long abscence. He told her he had been to the theatre. She j did not rebuke him, but he could see how much she was pained, for she knew " how much the first step costs," and Charles, fretted at the thought of his mothers unhappiness, passed his first sleepless night. Alas, how many was he fated to spend, in consequence of what many would think this his first slight error. The next day he was worried, restless and feverish, and had made a solemn resolution, never again to enter the Thespian Temple; but the rubicon had been Dassed and it was now too late. Juptbewfe dinner time, a porter handed him a note \ he opened it and (bund it was from the girl he had seen j at the theatre the night before: saying j she was very ill. and praying him to i come and see her, at least lor a few moments; he knew that if seen, it would subject him to severe censure, but confident in the- integrity of his motives, he did not think he would be doing wrong, and before going to his dinner he stopped to see her; she was very siclc and had no physician, he stayed a short lime with her, and promised to send her one. He did ; and as she was iil a long time, and it was but a short distance out of his way, in going from home to the store ; and she seemed to look forward to his visits with so much hope, and expressed so much gratitude when he came, that he stopped to sec her several times a day But his visits were seen by an acquaintance, who informed his employer, that his favorite cleric, Ciiarlks 13oudi:n, in whom he had such confidence, and I whose COndllPt llP llidd nr? no nn pic to all the other young men, was a roue, and so far gone and shameless, in ! dissipation, that he did not hesitate visiting houses of ill fame, in broad daylight, and insinuated, that all his goodness and morality consisted in consummate hypocrisy. Mr. Kimball, was much grieved, and calling Charles, into his private room, asked him if it was true, that he frequented houses of ill fame? He acknowledged that he had llf>nn tn nnp Jirifl ovnlilniwl LJo ! .v v.. VJ Vtiivt V'.\|/lUltlV'U 111 O II1VJ" tives, but Mr. Kimball was thoroughly a man of the world, and never having been influenced by such feelings himself, did not believe that any one else could be, and severely reprimanding him, charged him with falsehood, and ascribed his visits to very different motives. Feeling assured of the honesty of his intention?, Charles was very much mortified and vexed, and talked back to his employer very shortly, and as Mr. K. thought, so impertinently, mat beHevmghim hardened in vice, he dismissed him nt once. Charles was too proud to intercede, but it was with an aching heart, and a faltering step, that he walked towards his home. Dreading the effect his heat-rending news would have upon his mother ; but confident in her love, he summoned up resolution enough, to tcil her all the circum' r\ i i ? 1 stances, ueepiy, deeply, grieved was sho; but knowing the goodnesss and veracity of her boy, she believed his tale and encouraged him by all the means in her power, to hope for better times in the future, and told him he would have 110 difficulty in finding another situation But a blight was on his name, his reputation was gone, and after in vain trying every house in the city, he found his only chance was to accept the situation of bar keeper in a hotel. Feeling cha .? ??.? * l'l . , ^ I I UVAI Ul U1V WUI1U 1U1 VV 11UI IIU lIlUUiTIJl their unjust treatment, and constantly in the midst of temptation, he gradually learned to drink. From drinking, the road is strait and short to gambling, agd hoping to better his condition, he allowed himself to stake money of his employer's that was in his possession?he lost it?was charged with the theft, tried,convicted and condemned to prison. His mother who had treated him with unwavering kindness in all his troubles, and had used all the gentle and soothing arts of kind and virtuous woman, to keep his mind in the right way, was so shocked by this overwhelming blow. that she was attacked by a brain fever, i which ended her misery, and the poor lost degraded Borden, was alone in th 3 world. After he came out of prison, feeling poignantly, the loss of his beloved parent, and conscious of the weight of his moral disgrace, gave up all hope, and resigned himself to vice and dissipation, and in his twentieth year, Charles Borden?the once talented, high minded, and virtuous?the youth of so much promise?the hone of a mn?Vior ?died a miserable outcast in the almshouse. Thus, was one in itself, slight error? one step from the strict line of duty, the means of breaking a fond mother's heart, and bringing her head in sorrow to the grave?and the cause ofruining both for time, and for eternity, a once virtuous "irAiitK <***?! ?!% ?! ? jvhiiii m. uusc uuu iiiiiiii. yuunij man, when you start to enter a theatre; to touch the intoxicating glass; to handle a pack of cards, or to do any thing, of wnose morality there can be a question, and remember; oh! remember, that" It | is the. first step that costs." % THE HOUSE THAT ZACK I BUILT. Fort Brou n.?This ia the house that Zack built. The Cannon.?These are the bull i dogs, that lay in the house that Zack built. The Garrison.?These are the men, that led the dogs, that lay in the house 1 that Zack built. General Tat/lor.?This is the general as sharp as a thorn, that led the merr, that frd the dogs that lay in the house that Zaclc built. General Arista.?This is the General that rose in the morn, to meet the General as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the dosrs, that lay in the house that Zack built. 1 r * rm-% Mexican J mops.?These are the troops all tattered and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the morn, to meet the goneral as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the do<rs, that lay in the house that Zack built. Cajtl. Mai/, of the Dragoons.?This is the Captain not shaven nor shorn, that charged the troops all tattered and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the morn, to meet the general as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the dojrs, that lav in the house that i Zaek built. Gen. Vega.?This is the prisoner nil forlorn, that was taken by the captain not shaven or shorn, that charged the troops all tattered and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the rnorn, to meet the general as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the dogs that lay in the house that Zaclc built. rJhe Mexican Army.?These are the men all weary and worn, that abandoned the prisoner all forlorn, that was taken by the captain not shaven or shorn, that charged the troops all tattered and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the morn, to meet the General as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the do<xs that lay in the house that I Zack built. 7he American Army.?These are Yankees American born, that defeated the men all wear}- and worn, that abandoned the prisone r all forlorn, that was taken by the captain, not shaven or shorn, that charged the troops, all tatter ed and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the morn, to meet the general as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the dogs, that lay in the house that Zack built. The Press.?This is the Press with its newsman's horn, that told the Yankees American bom, that defeated the men all weary and worn, that abandon- i cd the prisoner all forlorn, that was taken by the captain not shaven or shorn, that charged the troops all tattered and torn, that followed the leader that rose in the morn, to meet the General as sharp as a thorn, that led the men, that fed the dogs, that lay in the house that Zack built. ' As I was going," said an Irishman over Westminster bridge the other day, 1 met Pat Hewings. Says I, " how are you * Pretty well I thank yon, Dolley," says he. 4* That's not my name," says I. "Faith, no more is mine Hewings," says he. So, we lookjed at each other, and, 1 faith ! it turn out to be neither of us. The Illinois volnntftors v??_ ceived their commutation money for clothing, which is .$42 for each , man, amounting in the aggregate to about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars! Several of the officers of the lT, States government have been burned in effigy in Mississippi, lately, for discharging the volunteers, A verv rich and costly silver vase has been manufactured 111 ' New York for a number of Whig 1 ladies in Tennessee, who intend 1 presenting it to Henry Clay. Since the commencement of the present hostilities with Mexico, | there has been prepared and ship- ! ped, from the arsenal at St. Louis, 1 one hundred and seventy tons of 1 fixed ammunition. < N Advertisements WILL be conspicuously inserted at 70 jents per square for the first insertion, md 137? cents for each continuance? on??'r ones charsrec! in nrnm^itu?~ ^ --- UVII. 1 IIUOU lot having the desired number of inser.ions marked upon thoin, will be continued uitil ordered out, and charged nccordingFor advertising Estrays Tolled, TWO OOLLAItS, to be paid by the Magistrate. For announcing a Candidate, TWO DOLT.,AllS, in advance. 0^7 All letters or communications must jo directed to the Editor, postage paid. (roil Tllli hanker ) TEMPERANCE NOTIONS. , Mr. Editor .*-v?h is with diffidence that 1 undertake to drive my pen upon this subject, when 1 reflect that it is one which, for a low years back, (in ibis country,) has formed a laboring theme for the combined talent of the present ;ige of enlightenment; one, to which the morally wise of the land, the artful in persuasion, the influential in song-, and the mighty in mind have turned the thunders of their eloquence Could we wield the pen 6f Appkllese, or speak with the tongue of 'Fully, we might then assume to add something new upon so liacknicd a theme. We shall t, 1 * uui uy any means contend that the evils of intemperance should be promoted, or that this great monster of enmity and destruction should be permitted to range unchecked over the peaceful dominions of a civilized people. But we think there is a propriety in measures which should always be consulted. Wo believe that a greater influence can be exerted over an enlightened people by the gentle art of persuasion, as a method of reformation, than by any resort to lorccu restrictions. The mind is the ruling principle by which are regulated the thoughts and actions of man ; and by acting upon the mind convincingly, touching the chord of refined feeling, exciting the sympathies, or striking at the sensibility, is the most effectual way to move the public. It is an influence which will extend itself alike with all ranks and classes; with the ignorant, tllP. IpflmnH tllP wico fin A n-nnil ?l>" 1.S?U ..WV.J v??>/ ?? IWV M11U gVJOUj LUC iilgil and low. If in olden time Orpheus could sing the trees to bow, and the rocks to weep; if then. Demosthenes could chain and melt at will the Grecian Council: what, at this age of progress and improvement, might we not expect from the overpowering influence of persuasive eloquence? When we appeal to the understanding of man, we strike at his strongest point?one, however, which in a conflict of reason, it is not discreditable to yield to a superior force : When we move at the passions, we attack linn where he is weakest in resistance, and where we are likely to meet with an easy sucrcss. In either case, we reach him in a manner which lie is proud to recognise, by addressing his reason and feelings?high attributes of God! reason is his distinguishing feature. To persuade and convince,the most ready and efficient mude of reaching it and exerting a lasting influence. But if we adopt harsher means and bring men to observe our crad, not from con viction, but from necessity, we will exert an influence which will be offensive and of short duration; nn influence similar to that cxercised by the Turk over his serf, or the master over the slave, which will last onlv so lone- as f D the power ofcocrcion is held over them. The present and past history of the world declares that by the gentle art of persuasion, wonders may be wrought, which would baffle the success of any other project. Do we not see by it, hundreds and thousands deserting the evil of their ways, forming in one hrnihArhnnd. nml in nnrfpct ?? : ?j ?-? Mincuiij our king the march of holy reformation? And who can gainsay, but that if this simple work were let alone, and kept unprejudiced by other unpopular agencies, it would encircle and overcome the depravity of the globe. And when we find the circle of temperance reform, enlarging and gaining strength at every step under this influence?when we find the people joining hand in hand, and with one accord, uniting their power to promote its advance*