Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
June 2, 1826
The National Republican And Ohio Political Register
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
What is this article about?
In this allegory, Death summons diseases to vie for the role of prime minister. Each disease claims its destructive power, but Intemperance enters triumphantly, asserting she is their parent and the main cause of human life's shortening. Death appoints her as his favorite and prime minister.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
CHOICE OF A PRIME MINISTER.
AN ALLEGORY.
Death, the King of terrors, was determined to choose a prime minister, and his pale courtiers, the ghastly train of diseases, were all summoned to attend. When each preferred his claim to the honor of this illustrious office, Fever urged the numbers he destroyed; cold palsy set forth his pretensions by shaking all his limbs. Gout hobbled up, and alleged his great power in racking every joint; and Asthma's inability to speak was a strong though silent argument in favor of his claim. Stone and colic pleaded their violence; plague, his rapid progress in destruction; and consumption, though slow, insisted that he was sure. In the midst of this contention, the court was disturbed with the noise of music, dancing, feasting and revelry; when immediately entered a lady, with a bold lascivious air, and a flushed jovial countenance; she was attended on one hand by a troop of cooks and bacchanals; and on the other, by a train of wanton youths and damsels, who danced half naked to the softest musical instruments: her name was Intemperance. She waved her hand, and thus addressed the crowd of diseases: "Give way ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merits in the service of this monarch; am I not your parent? The author of your being? Do you not derive your power of shortening human life almost wholly from me? Who then so fit as myself for this important office?" The grisly monster grinned a smile of approbation, placed her at his right hand, and she immediately became his principal favorite and prime minister.
AN ALLEGORY.
Death, the King of terrors, was determined to choose a prime minister, and his pale courtiers, the ghastly train of diseases, were all summoned to attend. When each preferred his claim to the honor of this illustrious office, Fever urged the numbers he destroyed; cold palsy set forth his pretensions by shaking all his limbs. Gout hobbled up, and alleged his great power in racking every joint; and Asthma's inability to speak was a strong though silent argument in favor of his claim. Stone and colic pleaded their violence; plague, his rapid progress in destruction; and consumption, though slow, insisted that he was sure. In the midst of this contention, the court was disturbed with the noise of music, dancing, feasting and revelry; when immediately entered a lady, with a bold lascivious air, and a flushed jovial countenance; she was attended on one hand by a troop of cooks and bacchanals; and on the other, by a train of wanton youths and damsels, who danced half naked to the softest musical instruments: her name was Intemperance. She waved her hand, and thus addressed the crowd of diseases: "Give way ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merits in the service of this monarch; am I not your parent? The author of your being? Do you not derive your power of shortening human life almost wholly from me? Who then so fit as myself for this important office?" The grisly monster grinned a smile of approbation, placed her at his right hand, and she immediately became his principal favorite and prime minister.
What sub-type of article is it?
Allegory
Prose Fiction
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Temperance
What keywords are associated?
Allegory
Death
Intemperance
Diseases
Prime Minister
Moral Lesson
Literary Details
Title
Choice Of A Prime Minister.
Subject
An Allegory
Key Lines
Give Way Ye Sickly Band Of Pretenders, Nor Dare To Vie With My Superior Merits In The Service Of This Monarch; Am I Not Your Parent? The Author Of Your Being? Do You Not Derive Your Power Of Shortening Human Life Almost Wholly From Me? Who Then So Fit As Myself For This Important Office?