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S. H. Ainsworth to Frederick Douglass, June 28, 1852

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Letter from S. H. Ainsworth.

West Blomfield, June 28, 1852.

Friend Douglass:—The Temperance electors of this Town elected a temperance board this Spring at their Town Meeting.—The result is that we have no liquor licenses. Our before liquor taverns, four in number, on being refused licenses, closed their houses and fenced their yards and sheds, and refused to keep any one on any terms. Just what we wished, and expected. Now the general expression was, we must have a Temperance House, a house to minister to the wants of body, and where the mind of the moral could rest, where it would not be horrified with dissipation, profanity and obscenity, the general accompaniments to liquor taverns. Accordingly at our first temperance meeting, we appointed a committee of five to prepair, and open a Temperance House. Said committee on consultation selected Daniel M. Smith and his intelligent lady, as best fitted to keep such a house. He was finally induced to take a Temperance House, and raise a sign. So far he has been well sustained, and given unbounded satisfaction. Instead of a dirty bar-room, the usual place of receiving travellers, they have a well carpeted and furnished parlor, clean, and everything neatly

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arranged. The table is well furnished with all the necessaries and real luxuries of life, and what is still a greater rarity is a kindly, accomplished, intelligent and decidedly intellectual landlady, who, after supplying the appetite, is willing and able to feed the mind with noble and refind thoughts—thoughts and words that would convince Doct. Manderville or Doct. Wisner that there is at least one woman capable of taking care of herself as well as edifying and instructing her guests.

I would solicit all the friends of the cause to call on Daniel M. Smith whenever they pass this way.

We have a Temperance Festival here on the 3d of July next. Oration by your worthy citizen Hon. W. C. Bloss. Dinner by Daniel M. Smith, and a rare treat it will be. The Oration will be in Mr. Sillick Dann's grove, a beautiful thicket of oaks just north of his house, commencing at 11 o'clock, Dinner at 1 o'clock P.M. All the friends of the cause, wishing to celebrate the overthrow of alcohol or its emancipation, are earnestly requested to attend. We are in hopes George W. Clark will attend. I think myself and Mrs. Ainsworth will attend your Celebration on the 5th.

Yours with esteem,

S. H. Ainsworth.

Creator

Ainsworth, S. H.

Date

1852-06-28

Description

S. H. Ainsworth to Frederick Douglass. PLSr: Frederick Douglass' Paper, 1 July 1852. Reports founding of temperance hotel in West Bloomfield, New York.

Publisher

This document was calendared in the published volume and has not been published in full before. 

Collection

Frederick Douglass' Paper

Type

Letters

Publication Status

Unpublished

Source

Frederick Douglass' Paper