Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-23


when often repeated, so necessary to our
that, though every succeeding
act of indulgence affords less absolute
pleasure than the preceding, the general
propensity is continually gaining strength, ,
ana while the perception of pleasure was
lcssening, desire on the whole increases,
and the pain of privation becomes great
or and greater,
A question here presents itselffor con
sideratlon.--ls the habit t'intcmpcrancc
in all cases dependent on education and
the circumstances in which individuals
arc placed, or does an innate prcdisposi-
ton and constitutional tendency exist in
some individuals favorable to its lorma-
ton? The former opinion is advanced
by many, but to my own mind there is
good reason hr believing that prcdis-
position to intcmpcrancc is sometimes in
heritcd from parents, and that in some 9TH
or instances the habit is favored in its
formation, bypcculiarity oftcmperamcnt
We know that children often inherit the
pecularitics of physical structure, the
tastes, tcmpcis, and diseases of their pa
rents. What we term gouty or scroiu-
lous habit, an apoplcctic or an cplleptic
tendency, are often transmitted by parents
to their offspring. Is it said that drunk
cnness comes on long after childhood, +,
and after many years total exemption
from it, The same may be said of the
diseases | have mentioned Is it said
that by avoiding the temptation Of dissi-
patcd companions, and other exciting
causes, drunk may be deferred, s
even entirely prevented in all cases; SO
may those diseases be prevented by a.
voiding their exciting causes, and adopt
ing a countcractng diet and regimen,
however strong may be the natural pre-
disposition to them. View this sub Iect
then as we may, there is as much reason
a priori, for supposing that intemperancc
is hereditary, as any disease that has
been deemed so; and if there are some
apparent exceptions in point of fact, that
initiate with this theory intemper-
ate parents and temperate children,
apprehend that many of them are attri-
butable to the circumstance that the pa
rents became Incorporate late in life,
and from some exciting cause to which
the children were not eXposed-or it may
be that their offensive and unnatural
conduct had a countcractng influence
on the minds of their children. In a
word, | am unable on any other suppo-
stion, than that of hereditary tendency,
to account for'the fact, that intemper-
ance so often runs in families.
Besides hereditary tendency, the ac-
QUESTION OF incorporate habits is facili-
tatcd by peculiarly Of temperament
Some are constitutionally phlegmatic
and unyielding to temptation-others of
a sanguine temperament are more ac-
commodating in their disposition, are
easily led astray by the example of their
associates. Such persons possess a nat
ural vivacity and susceptibility of pleas
urable enjoyment; are beings ofthe day;
enjoying life as it goes, regardless OF
consequences, their motto being rtrimus
dunn riramus. They are always accept
able companions to the gay and dissipa-
pated, especially in social circles; and
as stimulating drink elevates their buoy
ant spirits still higher, and exerts for a
time grateful influence on their system
they are always in the greatest danger
Of falling into habits Of intcmperance.
But after all, the rise and progress of
such habits are chiefly owing to eXtrin-
sic circumstances, to early education
and example. Custom often lays their
foundation at a much earlier period than
the world imagines, even in earliest in
fancy. These may become fixed and
difficult to eradicate, before the indul-
gent parents suspect their growth, and
which their own imprudencc had daily
been cherishing. Even the bland and
nutritious diet provided by nature for in
FAINT subsistence, is often made to .aIiy
an unnatural excitement into the veins
of the hapless infant, that overworks its
delicate arteries and brain, and prevents
the hcalthful developemc mt of its mental
aid physical powers. Often, too, its cries
are attempted to be stlllcd by heating
and intoxicating medicines, composed of
rum and opium, with few stimulating
under the name OF paragorlc.-
The direct tendency of the abuse of this
pernicious mixture, is, to sap both the
physical and intellectual energies of
and by weakening the dlges-
tive system, to establish sort of iacti-
tious necessity for such stmuants in af-
ter life, that may end in confirmed hab-
its of intcmperancc.
The food of children is often made too
stimulating, after they have left the cra-
die. The natural irritability of their di-
gcstive organs becomes bluntcd, and or
dinary simple food rendered insipd.--
'Stimulants, like the vices, are gregar-