The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2) — John Shaqi
The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2)Jerrold, Blanchard
History
The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2)
Jerrold, Blanchard
Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878
Morley says we will take the sherbet without the punch. That is the way
in which these things are looked at; but supposing that it is
impossible that any social enjoyment can be had without the use of these
stimulants, let us take another view of the question. I have had the
honour of dining here, and I have enjoyed myself very much, not only in
the time when I used to take wine myself--because I recollect there
was such a time as that--but when I have been a teetotaler I have been,
here, and enjoyed my dinner very much indeed, without any of these
drinks. But supposing we had this hall upon the occasion of the Lord
Mayor’s feast with the most elegant people in the world (for I believe
of all the people in the world the British people are the best looking
and the best dressed): imagine the scene! The tables are set out in
the most splendid manner; everything looks grand and happy; but what
is going on outside? Ay! my friends, the most splendid monument in the
world where this drink is used in moderation as it is in this country,
may in the inside be a splendid monument of good order, taste, and
sobriety, but at the outside there is filth and dirt and crime through
drink. I say, suppose these social meetings cannot be enjoyed without
these drinks, let us look at the outside. Now, there are a certain
number of circumstances or acts committed in society, which are always
injurious, not only to the individual himself, but also to society at
large. Now, I do not mean to say that every teetotaler is an honest man.
There may be some dishonest fellows amongst them. I have heard of two
in the last thirty years. This reminds me, by-the-bye, of a teetotal
turnkey at Coldbath Fields. There were two youths brought into the
prison, who were teetotalers, and the other turnkeys jeered the teetotal
turnkey upon it. He said, ‘It is true that there are two teetotalers
here, but they are here only for begging, whereas you have about fifteen
hundred brought in who drink, and they are most of them committed for
stealing.’ There are a number of besetting sins connected with drinking,
such as robberies, brutal assaults, garotting, house-breaking, suicide,
and murder. By-the-bye, speaking of murder, there has been a very strong
feeling existing for many years, and still increasing, against the
punishment of death. I think it is a very horrible thing indeed to hang
anybody; but, my friends, do not forget that it is a still more horrible
thing for one to be murdered. Do not let us forget that. There was a
young man in the country a little while ago hanged for murder--quite a
young man. It was a sad thing indeed, no doubt, to see this poor fellow
gibbeted; but what was he hanged for? He had been drinking on the
Saturday night, and he murdered a young woman as she was going to church
on the Sunday morning. Do not forget that these horrible, detestable,
damnable crimes are committed under the influence of drink. We will
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