Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-31
THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1882.
TcoMMU NIcATED.

lowing is an extract, was written some years ago
by gentleman to friend Of his. who had fallen
into incorporate habits. 10 these times, when
the desire to give check to such habits has been
SO generally evinced throughout the country the
sentiments expressed in this letter cannot but
meet the appreciation Of all the friends Of tempe
rance; and possibly they may serve to awaken
the attention Of some needless person to the i'm
portance Of the subject. 1t may be we'll enough,
however, to mention, that the friendly remon-
strance failed Of its effect with the person to
whom it vas directed. The propensity bad be-
come irresistible, and the unhappy man In lew
months after was no more:
~ will proceed. now, to the main object OF
this letter, which is to say that there Is but one
remedy for the disease that afiilcts you-but one
way to save you from the destruction that lne'l-
tably awaits YOU: and that is, to enter into So
Tenn vow or oath to abstain for some given pert
cd from the fascinating Indulgence. l mention
period-lst. because believe person strongly
attached 10 any habit will much sooner get his
own consent to enter into a resolution to abstain
for some given PERIOD than for an indefinite lime;
and, 2ndIy, because believe in your case, which
has not been Of very long standing, Though the
effects have been very rapid Tor the time) short
space Of time would be enough to wean you from
it; and to show you that you can live without
il. rs well as myself aud hundreds OF others.
Perhaps you may suppose that the system, being
accustomed for some time to such stimulus,
could not without injury dispense with 1t alto
sether, and that little would be necessary; but
YOU may take it for granted, that unless tie alb
s,inence i total, while the experiment IS making,
II will be in vain to attempt the cure. Where Is
the person who eau bear to be tsntaliZed with on
" little aud little Of what he is passionate
" fond oi?-The attempt Is out Ut the question:
and as to any real injury TO the system from
total abstinence, | believe nothing OF 1t, nor ne
yer heard Of such thing. Ii is true there may
he temporary Inconvenience, which might be
easily remedieI bS small portions Of some stlmu-
lative substitute Of less nOxlous quality. 1t
would be needless to enter here into detail oil
The various temporal evils and misfortunes to
which you will subject botn yourself and family,
by persevering IN your present way;-all these
things have, doubt not, been often suggested
by YOUR own hOuShts;-nor need say 1t Is high
Is probable, from present appearances, that you
cannot survive such course for six months to
come, aud this your own feelings must point out;
but, nevertheless, there some considerations, OF
much greater import, to which fam would turn
YOUR attention. The end of your life here is but
the beginning of YOUR existence-G necer- ending
existence in another world! This Is the grand,
the aI-impcrtant object! Are you willing then,
by premature sacrifice Of that health and youth
YOU have received as gift from your Maker, to
cut off forever from Yourself the opportunity you
might otherwise have of preparing for that future
existence? When your happiness or misery
throughout the counties ages of eternity are put
into one scale, aud a sensual qualification OF the
taste into the other, are you willing the latter
should pyeponderate7 No! l am sure you are
not. sm sure, if you can out bring your mind
steadily to this view of the NATTER you Will shud-
der at the thought. AS TO temporal motives or
inducements towards making TIE proposed expe-
riment, l will mention, as one, how much all
your connexions and friends would be rejoiced
to see YOU brought back from the present intatua.
ton flor so it must be called.) You have mo-
ther, a sister. brothers, wife, children, and
other connexions and friends. They all feel the
deepest regret and surrow for your situation; but
as to your acquaintance in general, these are not
the kind oe sentiments iikel to he inspired. You
can remember, yourself, in what light you, as
well as others, regarded poor 1880. some years
ago, and 10 general you have had occasion to oo-
serve what opposite sentiments from those OF re-
spect and esteem are entertained by the world
for those who are so unfortunate as to TALL under
the dominion Of such habits. Is it possible there
can be any mere sensual desire so strong as to in-
duce its possessor to give up all that is desirable
Or estimable in this life, and all that is happy
and glorious in the next. for the sake OF its gra-
LITIGATION? No! il cannot be: il certainly re-
auires nothing more than resOlute determine
ton Of the mind TO resist its impulse, which 1t is
well known will become weaker and weaker the
longer the resistance is continued.
have Thought it possible you may not take
THIS letter 10 good part-that you will consider 1t
as an improper interference on my part; and that,
your prid, being hut. you will turn deaf ear
to its contents. shall be truly sorry, should it
Give rise 10 such sentiments; for l am conscious
of writing it from the best motives, and from a
wish to prunote vour rcst interests.
With this wish, Include.
Dear sir, yol,s.