The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-06
MISCELLANY.
from the National lntelligencer, March 1899
A GOOD STORY.

GEnrLEMrN.-Ifthe following will serve
the cause of humanity, you are at liberty
to publish it:
81 was once a respectable man. ! can
very well remember the very first step
which led me to what ! am now. II was
on a Sunday night-yes, Sunday night
for what law of God and man will not he
who is beginning to yield to the power OF
temptation make subordinate to the law Of
his .ppetite? TWAS on Sunday night that
! was decoyed into a tavern, which was
called "The HOTEL" and with little diff.
ferent spelling and pronunciation its cha
racter would be expressed with dreadful
accuracy. And there, first, when was AT
The tender age of fifteen, with intellectual
promise as fair as ever made parents
heart bound with Joy, tasted sweetened
liquor The friend as he used TO call him
SELF who tempted me into the tavern, tho
but boy like myself, could curse and
swear like a sailor. To this vice was
never addicted until became incorporate
1t is a genuine heather vice. And the on
ly times that Cicero appears foolish is when
he brings out one Of his oaths. j don't
know what TO compare this de;establc
practice Of the Roman orator to, unless TO
thIs--I am cropping magnificent garden,
snd every now and then ! meet toad
Or rather, see n hero moving in stately
march along Ia spirit stirring Instruments.
and every few steps letting off squiJ
Pity the music of those flowing periods
should ever be interrupted by such non.
sense as mehereuie. Many men, however
perhaps most who sweer.a great deal
do il because they have nothing like sense
TO utter. Ny friend, who was The mos. de
tested enemy ] ever had, though "bul
dust" now, handed me tho cup. II con
tained drink called FHp--u winter bcv
eragc among them the New Englandcrs.
made Of common beer, spirits and sugar
and hcnted with red hot poker Take
the spirits apart, and ] abhorrcd it; but
mixed, and soitened, and swectened, and
warmed, as the whole was with poker,
which when il was inserted into the fluid, |
made il hiss like an Internal c0uldrop, il |
was quite palatenblo-very pleasant.
remember the light and joyous sensations
which bounded through my brain. feltI
a delicious delIrum, was pleased with cv
cry body round me-fclt brave enough 10 |
march to the cannon's mouth able TO be
Commander in Chief; III was time of war;
wanted 10 fight for my country--was ready
for any thlng--yct could not be sad to be
crazy. A severe amatory fiji seized me.
Nothing was like the girt Of my heart. In
short ] acted like fool, as many in like
have before and since. All
this, however, passed off with the first
sleep. and would never have been though, |
of again, bat for tho dreadful fact that then
and there got taste OF that Circean cup
which has MI butpoisoned me 10 death, and
will soon finish me! That was the first in
n series Of steps do,cnioord ] rciished the
beverage kccny.. Having. nothing special
TO do, hailed with light heart the hour
that was TO bring III together TO drink Zip.
] went homo every night with high ideas,
and when in til. morning rose, il soon
became necessary after q Kind of waking
e,djy doze through tho forenoon to go TO
the side board and "taste little drop" t.
the. This alarmed my moth |
er and sisters.--They thought strange and !
demonstrated; but ] despsed the idea OF
being a ,ipplcr, and was angry because
they expressed their fears, after they had |
seen me do it few times, that would |
form tho habit of drinking.
Had been just to those fears then, ! |
should not be what | am now. Let tn, |
young man who is just acquiring the taste |
not disregard those gentle admonitions,--
They arc the suggestions Of guardian AZ |
gels, which, If obeycd, will open 10 hin I
The path of peace and health, contcntmen
md honor. If disobeyed, he is dcstincc |
to trouble, discomfort, disgrace. sickness |
and death. could go now and call for m |
glass. treat and be treated. IL was gentle |
must not be a gcnticman?-
I was getting mp in life. and mus, be alb, |
10 master "a stiff glass" of brandy, gin
mint iulcp, or whatever the fashonablc
drink was. A route, ball, dinner,
supper, an election, game, something or
nothing, furnished three hundred and sixty
FIVE opportunities in the wear to indulge
my growing appetite When at length
began to be somewhat alarmed nj this sur
prisng progress in dissipation, I resolved
20 abstain for a limited period Then my
would kndlc M, for ! wished ar
IDENTITY to be a great man, and | studied
earnestly FOR timo the science OF law and |
politics, but when the allotted period ex
pired, forward would rush again into the |
old channel like current that, having |
been damned mp. breaks over the frail bar. |
riers with fresh impetuosity.
got married--for woman, affectionate !
woman. will not hear of faults in him she |.
loves. "He will soon reform. He loves
me too well to make me unhappy; he knows
I shall not like it. He promises TO abstain"
All deceived woman! Love may be stron
ger than death. but the power ofthe cup is !
stronger ,han both. What A drinking
MANA man that can drink five glasses Of
brandy a dny with pleasure. is not far from
that point when he will sacrifice health,
wealth. pride, patriotism, reputation, love,
life, every thing for that damnable thirst.
I loved my wife as much az man could;
was ns sensitive TO honor and reputation as
any. hnf toll pnn I cnnll mhnn tho hnhif