THE DEVIL AT THE TEVIOT. (To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times).

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 145, 17 November 1870, Page 3

THE DEVIL AT THE TEVIOT. (To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times).

Sir, — Whether the continued drought and oppressive heat wh oh we have experienced for so long a time, combined with the accompanying electrical c >ndition of thß atmosphere, has a similar influence on human tempers and emotions, causing, after a long period of calm and quiet, moral thunderstorms corresponding iv thfir destruction and terrific effects witli what we are accustomed to in ihe material world, is altogether beyond our philosophy to determine ; but that some such causes, have of late been at work in the ni-u.il atmosphere of this district is pninfnHy apparent t«> the more dispassionate portion of the residents ; and tliu distant rubble o; the thunder seems to have penetrated to your own quiet editorial sauctuni. All our usual social gatherings, winch genes rally do bo much to promote harmony

and g"od feeling,. seem l ate^y^^Bßß|^n duced fruits of an entirely opposlTS"Tnar- \ acter. Our tea meetings, for example, would almost induce an onlooker to believe that, mixed with the fragrant " buneft the publicans surreptitiously introduced some of that commodity which both cheers and inebriates, and sometimes unuuiy excites the combative organs. As_ you are aware, Mr. Editor^ elements which i in themselves are innocent and indeed highly beneficial, if mixed in certain proportions, i produce the most disastrous explosions* j Teetotaiism, Politics, and Metliodwnl* ! are in themselves eminently calculated to do good, if kept separate ; bnt if "Judiciously mixed together, as on a certain ' occasion, pioJlucos, as we cau bear witueap, ! effects simi'ar to vulcinic eruptions, dwj placing, twisting, and distorting the PjSL vious stratiS cations of society. .^^7^ fashioned people were in the habit lX attributing such I a I mit!> c iks to the "J 1^ usal activity of the Devil; and notwitl - \ stauding the assertion of a well-known lecturer in this vicinity his nonexistence, we are not quite s^^but it is caused by his agency. Who wjf'ows but his Satanic Majesty has the same .happy facility for compounding a mixture «^he classes above indicated, in suclt pr«|j> ttons as to form a very desti lutive ml^K rial, in the same way as the clifim^t out o the sedately harmless agents g'ycerine and ni^wnamif.t turjs" h; e^plosi*© suDstaneeTtn^gii'ecta of w.Ach are wel? known. LmerelyT^|ro\v <>vi. th^^t. Sayans may afcfcrwaroifcietermin^vhat aiO g the rtiative proportlM^which i^ut« be 1 considered dangerou3?\£sWls<vthe mixi- I mum uumoerof tne ajovn^fcw s^tiat^ ] may with saLty be pcrmiftea^MSSßika^e under any one r »>i. *-^5^ The scrauge cirA^M^ance is, t^P^prioif^ to the iutro.U ci n oWvhat ai ejsom^™^g r grandiioqueu ly termed by ti.ti fxKinaW I '• ameliarative '*• institutioLS, we- were" I like another " Au un"t ie loveliest village of the the Benger Plat in whifh«the happy-go-lucky prosy state of existence was exemplified .iv a sfitte of [erf-cm.i n. The foregoing ivmarks^cre sug^t.d *. by heaving an old resident re^re k^the existing state of affairs, observing that i hitherto, Satanos, s.-eined to have*, over- f looked this happy Corry in hunting* grounds, and Wd3 liow energetically trying to make up for lost time. Serious. y,. our social state is much to be regretted, and not a little of the recent disturbance ♦ may be traced to a number of vain-glorious^ scribblers rushing into print. . s .' * Rustic. Teviot, 14th Nov, IS7O.