Map on Temperance

Map on Temperance

Murrell, William Meacham

1846

An allegoric map on alcohol and temperance vom 1846,

This map by William Meacham Murrell was printed in 1846 and is another example of allegoric maps drawn as part of the temperance movement’s crusade against alcohol and other vices. The overall appeal and argument is similar to Wiltberger’s earlier map. “The Ocean of Life” in the centre of the map is surrounded by two larger landmasses as well as a group of islands. Heroism and Patriotism as well as Honesty and Happiness Empire are on the continent of abstinence and temperance whereas the city of Murder, Paupers Bay and Lazy Harbour reside west of the Folly Straits. While this map is much less artistic and offers much less details than Wiltberger’s map, this map is accompanied by a long explanatory poem. In the poem the reader learns that “Life is an Ocean” and “man’s is the Ship” and follows the author, who a few years earlier published a book on his time as a crew member at sea (Murrell 1840), on his voyage from the “Alcoholic seas” to heaven and glory.

alcohol

temperance

map

62 x 51 cm

Cornell University - PJ Mode Collection of Persuasive Cartography

English

public domain