Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-30

age.
From mental alienation, so painful to
contemplate, let us advert for a moment
to the ordinary influence of ardent spir-
its upon the hcalhful exercise ofthc in-
tcllectual faculties. The condition of
these is intimately associated with that Of
the brain,-they grow with its
growth, strengthen with its strength,
and decline withits decay.
4 Every temporary excitement of the
brain arouscs the operations of the mind
in corresponding degree, but in other
organs, the excitement soon produces ia
tiguc.-Too often does the poet attempt
to speed the wings of his Imagination by
an eXhiliarating drauSht, without seem
ing to be aware that The advcnttious aid
thus impaired, whirls the fancy beyond
the Judgment, and 'lcavcs the body and
soul in state of listlcss Incidence and
sloth. Where is the poet, who has goa
ded his Imagination with the intoXicat-
lag cup, that. has cqualIcd Homer and
Virgil; or the orator that has rivallcd
Dcmosthcncs and Cicero! all of whom
wrote before ardent spirit was known.
Is it said that genus is quickencd by
it, and its productions made to smell less
ofthe lamp? they however smell more of
the dccanter, and of the immoral influ-
ence that springs from its habitual use.
Childe Harold was written when the au-
thor practiced total abstinence, and Don
Juan, when he faded his muse with gin,
and better commentary on the demOr-
alizing, debasng and polluting influence
Of such stimulus, cannot and need not be
offered. 1t should be remembered that
all such artificial impulses are fitful and
unce ertain, and that he who urges the
speed Of his mental engine by such in
tcnscly heating fuel, hastens the declen-
sion of ITS power, and that he is unprovi-
dcd with any safety valve, to prevent an
apoplcctic explosion.
might proceed with the catalogue Of
diseases that result from the use and a.
buse of distilled liquors, and present to
you, Jaundice, Gout, Rheumatism, Drop
sy, Palsy, Epilepsy, Apoplcxy and Dis
pepsia in its Protcan forms. In truth,
there is scarcely human infirmty that
may be directly or indirectly excited or
in some degree aggravated by this NOR
bid agent; but the time already occu-
pied requires that should proceed, Third
ly, to the treatment ofintcmpcratc habits.
And here | may repeat the tritc, yet
faithful remark, that an ounce of proven
ton is better than pound Of cure. We
have seen that children, from hereditary
disposition, or peculiarly Of tcmpera-
mcnt, are constitutionally different, in
respect to their propensity to acquire 4
habit of intempcrance; and as we would
protect them from tho exciting causes Of
those diseases to which they arc consti-
tulionally liable, and, in respect to intem-
perance, are unable at an early period
to forescc what their propensity may be,
let us take the safer course, and guard
their early scnsibilitics against all strong
exciants Of the stomach, whether of food
drink or medicine, and rcbukc all those
practices by which tho foundation of in
temperance is laid, in the nursery itself
AS their little minds unfold, and begin
to survey the conduct Of others,we should
guard them assdously against the inhu-
encc of bad example. How many pa
rents have perverted their tender minds
by holding the moderate use of ardent
spirits in respectful consideration. In
the presence of their children, and while
their tastes and opinions were forming,
they drank moderately, and offered it to
friends as debt ofhospitality. The de-
canter occupied an honorable place on
the sidcboard, was regarded as pana-
cea for every trifling alment, real or i'm
aginary,-as cordial and restorative
under every exposure of the body to
heat, cold or fatigue, and as the main
spring of social feeling and enjoyment.
Where is the child who revcrcs his pa
rents, that can long resist the control
ling influence Of such frequent example: !:
| Where is the child who sees the dccan-
ter thus honored as fountain OF so much
good, ''that would not learn to think Of
it, contrvc ways Of obtaining it, and soon
be in danger of loving it, and be easily
drawn into the snares of those who use it
to excess" We denounced distillcrs s.
dram m-scllcrs, and would to God there
were less of them; but it is parental cx-
ample, honoring ardent spirit, by drink
ing it moderately at the table and else
where, that sows the seeds of intcmpcr-
ance in the minds of children, ere they
have found their way to bar-rooms and
dramshops.
When habit ofintcmpcrancc is once
contracted, whether in youth or those
of matnrcr years, no time is to be lost in
assailing and routing the enemy by every
possible mode Of attack. Few habits
enthrol by SO potcnt n smell. the yolun-