Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-15

drinking, which huts noDouy, coulu
get a hundred members 10 join your
society where you now get ten. Yes,
and every member Of every temperance
society believes it, But just reverse
your position. You may take ten Oh
the principle of moderate drinking, and
experience says that some of them
would become drunkards. And give
us hundred, or a thousand, or a hun
dred thousand in the practice of entire
abstinence, and truth says that none OF
them would be in danger Of becoming
Incorporate. BY your moderate drink
ing, all empire might be overthrown; by
our total abstinence, not AN individual
would be injured.
FACTS STATED.
A gentleman who is now keeping
store in the town Of Bradford, in Yer
mont, not long since gave to friend
the following account of his own busi-
ness. Said he, "For about three years
l sold ardent spirits, and used to carry
up from Boston nearly 5000 gallons
New England rum, and as much more
OF other spirits and wine per year. !
found that retailing by the & lass was in
turing many of my neighbours, and
running others, and the first day OF
January, 1927, | commenced selling in
quantities not less than quart and up
wards Still The same injury and rum
continued and increased. | have set IN
my store" said he, "wlth feelings
quite depressed, thinking of individuals
and families that were suffering for
necessaries, by spending their earnings
for strong drink; and of farmers, who
would come to me and exchange their
bushel of corn for gallon OF spirit,
while their children lacked for clothing
and education. i felt very unhappy,
and came to the resolution that my store
should no longer be resort, where my
fellow townsmen and others should be
made the victims Of intempersnce or OF
moderate drinking; and The first OF
January 1898, discarded the sale OF
ardent spirits entirely. l met with
some opposition at first, and had some
difficulties to overcome; but was resol-
we'd, at every hazard and sacrifice, to
adhere TO my sense Of duty. And,
continued he, with countenance beam
ing with gladnes., 81 pcrsevercd and
surmounted every difficulty. My
BUSINESS never was better, my bad
debts not worth mentioning, my store IS
a place of order, my customers pleased,
and myself far happier man. Besides,
two other stores in the town have fol-
lowed my example. My greatest trouble
now, is in collecting debts contracted
when | sold ardent spirits" 1t is pro-
per to ada, that this gentleman, after
disseminating the sale in 1928, had his
resolution put to the test. For des-
tructive freshet ruined the larger part OF
all his property. Even with the press
ure of this misfortune, he had no mis-
givings, but went on with his expert
ment, till it has proved a means of both
profit and pleasure. Thus the objection,
that grocers and store keepers are in
jured by temperance societies, is reluted
and the reverse is proved by fair trial.
To illustrate the effects of using mr.
dent spirits in families, many cases
might be mentioned. But one only Is
requisite on the present occasion. In a
certain bOWn, tne utdCOl Vi 'hC Chui'i
always practised moderate drinking,
and treated his friends in the same way.
Temperance societies he called milk
porridge and cold water societies, and
made them, constantly the objects of his
ridicule. His constitution and habits
enabled him to drink large quantity
without appearing in the least intoXica,
ted. He had several promising SOM
and daughters, all of whom were per.
mtted to initiate their fathers moderate
drinking. They were interesting anc
intelligent. But now only one daugh-
ter is living, and she is a Jealous mem
Der Of a temperance society. One o.
his sons, a respectable physician, per-
ceiving the evil which threatened
warned his father of the ruin he was
bringing on his family. Yet this son
with his eyes open to the danger, still
adhered to the practice taught by hl'
fathers example; and died a drunk ard
Let those, therefore, who offer arden
spirits in their houses, or who use it il
their families, look to the end thereof
and bear in mind, that if their children
become Incorporate, they have none t.
blame hut themselves