Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-11
From the Ne,o York american.
A CHAPTER ON INTEMPERANCE.

L.. lie
tial. o, that men should put an enemy in their
mouths, to steal away their brains! That we
should. with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause,
transform ourselves into beasts. cassie.
Such were the pathetic Explanations of one who
had lost station. honor. and the favor OF beloved
leader. by single momentary fit of intoxicatiOn.
Alas, how MANY melancholy instances is this poor
world full of, where happiness, reputation, and
even life, is daily sacrificed at the altar OF this
monster passion!
To trace the different gradatfons by which the
drunkard descends from life of honor and IA
tonal enjoyment, to that beastly and habitual IN
toxication which ever ends in violent or shame
full death, would require an ADLER pen than mine.
Whether through the agency OF tobacco, OF COM
panionable qualities, a cold or warm tempera-
ment, disappointment or passion, whether he fell
a voluntary and unresisting victim to the desoat-
iur practice. or struggled with the fend that war
red with his better purpose, it boots but little TO
INQUIRE, since all who are so are past hope; and
all who would shun the same mise1es, must pos
sess stronger moral sense of purity, than pre-
scriptiOa can supply. Hence, to habltual drunk
ards-to those whose periodical recurring thirst
instigates them to regular potatons-whose first
blooming indications give deceitful evidence OF
unusual health, but whose watery eye, and fever
ed lin, betray the existence of the incipient flame
of that consuming fire which is never quenched-
to those who are already involved in the eddies
of.that fearful Charybdis, should We cast
a plank, or stretch forth saving hand? The de-
mon hath set his mark upon them; and they have
given him bond written with their own hearts
blood. which the prayers and expOstuations OF
friends, the tears of the beloved companion OF
his bosom, the cries of his innocent little ones,
can never cancel. But to those whose brain mas
not vet proven the delirium, who have not yet
drunken Of the cup of the transforming Gree, may
our counsel yet bring salvation, that they may
shun that sin to which all others are but as neces
sary consequences, and avoid that fall to which
all others are but as intermediate distances.
Behold Won yellow haired stripping, carOlling
ioyouslv on his wav to school. In him all the
flies of kindred and associate are like the warm
blood which flows through his veins; as pure and
impetuous as the chrysta brook that PUSHES with
wild precipitation from the green hills side
Parent, sister. friend, are names for which the
vocabulary of the world, clustering with princes,
potentates, and powers, can present none dearer
and fuller of richer import Gay dreams and the
Preside legends fill the round year with delight
full visions. These he soon relinqulshes for the
sports of the ball and the forest. As his sta
ture and strength increase, so do his passions.
He looks OUT, with holder eye. upon the broad
world; and sees, with the eated hope OF soon sur
mounting them, the first SUBMITS OF those cares
and labors, like ALPS on Alps arise" He
quits the paternal root, with many fond adleu,
and casts manya ''longing, lingering look be-
hind" upon the scenes of his boyhood's sports,
as he issues forth to minsle whit the motley group
that struts its brief hour upon the theatre of life
81 Laos aft md
ensrossing subject of his thoughts. the world
the CAV. deceitful world-6ls them with new af-
fectiors and new hopes, and conducts him from
pleasure to pleasure, with untiring aSsiduity.
circle of acquaintance is soon formed: he is ca
ressed dazzled, intoxicated with its artful civil
ties. And that fair being whose tenderness should
,ooth our afflictions-cheer our solitary hours
sall in our rowing propensities- our
irregular tempers, and purify our sullen atfec-
tions,-by strange perversion of education and
habits, creates in US foolish emulation in dress
IA glaring and ridiculous extravaganza in our
Measures pseudo chivalric feeling, and
shameless rivalry in fashionable dissipation and
folly. Here he first feels the want of those mere
tricious Accomplishments, which dress, the segar,
and the glass, alone can confer. These he ac-
auires with constitutional promptness; and learns
TO practice the bacchanals of his cOterie, before
he has formed for them an appetite or desire.
Aud this latter feeling Of either indifference or
repugnance, fortifes him against the salutary adj
vice Of his friends. But that habit which con-
quers our tastes, also subdues our frmness; so
that it is no sooner contracted, than the power
to forsake it. deserts US. Late hours and an ear
ly headache bear testimony to the growth of
the incipient passion. Loss of appetite comes
next--then, eyes red and watery-lips swoln
and dry-the cheeks usually bloated and suf-
fused with dull hame-the action fnmbling
and clumsy-with general expression OF wea-
riness. Complaints Of catarrhal affections, indi-
gestion. and dull pains. betray the truth to his
friends: who soon become shy aud few. Servants
become surly and disrespectfal. and his fair
ON. is never at home. This startles him; and
he begins to suspect himself OF some irregularty;
hut consoles himself with dram and promise
to think Of it Tomorrow. Tomorrow comes;
ana indisposition and lassitude require pre-
cription and stimulant. The bottle IS his