Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-02

DRUNKENNRss-C0 communicable
Mr.. Editor: OF all detestable bsb;fx-
that OF drunkenness is best caleuIaled
to render Man miserable: Once he con-
sents to become perpetual ,avo,,-
haunter, speedy disrepute will NOT faa1,
introduce him into the wide road OF inn
poverishment. No longer treating himself
with respectfully becoming more and
more careless as well of his external m
pearance as of his intrinsic wortb-,,p-
able, now that he has fallen to the love,
of the most abandoned sot. to p,,rcbsss
even the semblance of decent annaroI~.
every virtuous sentiment which he might
have possessed being now extinguisLed
he can have no pretensons of rece;y-
ing from the respectable part of COM
munity, any other than the most marked
neglect. Arrived at this state of degra-
dalton, he can no longer be considered
as sustaining any other character than
that OF "a pest TO society, and burden
to himself" If engaged in any mocha
meal or other business, no reliance can
be placed on any promise he may make
Tor he only promises TO disappoint.
1t frequently happens, too, that the
drunlsard not only Furnishes himself hut
entails indescribable misery upon a too
affectionate wife and several obedient
haii-starved oflsprings: How MANY de-
plorable facts, would ask. have not
been presented to our contemplation. OF
industrious and virtuou. females becorn-
ing reduced to an absolute state of beg-
gary, and consequent dependency. thro,
the objectionable Irregularities of bru-
tai and unieeling wretches, unworthiiy
assuming the honorable title of HTS
BANDS? And, during the 'chilling blasts
OF winter" how often has humanity been
shocked by the exposure, even in the
streets, of innumerable little innocents,
destitute, almost entirely, of the neces-
sary articles of clothing !--the undenia-
BILE effects of drunkenness!
Nor is this all: We have observed.
Con the return to his miserable howell. at
an unreasonable hour of the mighty the
drunkard's
Trembling children look with steadfast eyss&
"And painting, sob involuntary sighs!''
So accustomed to the abuse which
had been heaped upon them, in common
with their mother, on former occasions.
1t Is not all surprizing that Nature should
teach them some artless supplication to
prevent repetitions of a similar charac-
ter. On the mind of the drunkard. how
ever, such interesting, feeling persua-
sons have little or no infuence-ten-
derness is stranger to his bosom--his
heart has become formed of the texture.
Of the untutored savaseI
In conclusion, drunkenness. it will be
conceded, has been the origin of more.
and greater crimes, than any other vice.
Under its influence, murder has been
committeeman it begets every thing
like bad habit. Among these habits.
gambling win be found most prominent
gambling will produce excesses-ex-
cesses, me'ancholy-melancholy, des-
pair, sc. &c.
1t there are any who are about COM
mencing this habit, would respectfully
admonish them to desist from it instan-
taneously if they have respect for Them
selves--if they have any wish to be adj
mittedinto respectable society in short.
il they have any desire to enter into a
bissful hereafter. Listen, oh! listen. to.
the voice of soRR1r,rv
$50 - szru