The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-09-05
From The Souitcrn Literary Messenger.
REFLECTIONS OF 4 REFORMED DRUNK
ARD

REFLECTIONS OF Il REFORMED DRUNK
ARD.
Ii was L pleasant world, with its green
fields, and sunny skies, and broad nlajes-
tic mountains, before the advent of this
iron age. Bot alas! ten years have done
the work OF il century. The world is
changed, and we are changed with il,
No more are our sorrows lightened by
that ETHEREAL spirit, 'doinc lis spirting gen
thy as Ariel--ALcouoL. The very name
sounds huge and monster like now, but d
child may remember the day when the
weak, and the timed, and the faintina
were not afraid OF his presence. Let me
not indulge in the Renaissance! The
butt is out, and we must drink water.
Public opinion is god. Let us submit
as we may. Think not, reader, that | was
drunkard. No unhecoming levity-no
want of scfrespect did | betray, in the
brightest days Of the golden age. Aquiet
gentleman and 4 comely, of an uncertain
age, was to be seen daily perambulatinq
the shady streets Of W, my counte-
nance, perchance, q trif1e fiushed-a shade
more | fear than the gentle exercise | had
taken would warrant-and my step, al
times, loftier than beseemed me. | Twas a
dreamer then.
But was injuring my constitution.
Not at all but drank for amusement
saw plainly the absurdity of purchasing
present pleasure at the price Of future
pain. Therefore did practice The most
rigid selfdenal. fatter myself my
judgment is sufficient guide wei,
Est mod'As imrcJus,' with one exeep-
tion,--the temperance society. Like
space it has no limits. Its advocates will
never be satisfied, till they bring the
world to sign pledge of entire absti-
nance from every thing eatable and drink
able-even bread and water. expect to
see the day when to cat an apple will be
al indelible disgrace, and milk and water
viii be sold by the druggists as Il medi.
cine. Champaign will soon rank III point
of acridity with nitric acid.
Icount myself martyr. I have joined
the society! | had lived year in soil
tude, tho in the midst of my friends, and
could bear it no longer. For twelve long
months, my noighbors Stunned me like
viper, merely because-Iisten, posterjty!
| occasionally INDUCED TO excess in my
favorite beverage, TVhishey puucM But
it is all over now. ! have signed the
pledge, and since it is done will make a
virtue of necessity For the good of my
country, is it, We prosecutors! that We have
required me to joinp Because my neigh
boz is drnnkard | must taste no more
wine! Admirable logic! Suppose he
were glutton-must forego my dinner?
Yes, | am a martyr-the prince of mar
tyrs. The Decii should not be named in
the same breath. They died for their
country; | HUe!
Too true alas! it is.
DO you doubt it? Why then, when
upon earth, did our Savior turn your boas-
ted water into wine? thank heaven for
that miracle.
TO what will not the world como? |
know men who really believe wine to be
deadly poison. Let me- tell them that a
Toper's stomach is stronger than they
imagine. We are not killed so easily
'Ferer Prometheua = s. insan leonis,
Vino stomacho apposuisse nostro;'
and we can yet endure another draught
Nobody thinks, now days, ofdrnking
brandy; a very few aspire to rum-but
most of the old veterans of my acquaint-
ancc have taken refuge in wine. 'Forli-
ter occupa Portune,' is their motto. But
even here they are not secure! Quaf'
while We may, my masters! forcsee the
time when you will be glad to drink water.
What a quiet, delightful, dream-infes-
ted village was W before the broach-
ing of this new doctrine. There, of Il
summer afternoon, beneath that huge elm,
might you see the patrarchs of the town,
with their sons and grapdsons and great
grandsons forsooth, stretched on the green
grass, or sitting at ease on the smooth
pine benches, smoothing perchance, or
discussing gingerly and calmly some piece
of village gossip-whilst ever and anon
the antique punch-bowl, long since depar-
ted, passed cheerfully around the circle.
And were not these good men and true?
Let me not insult their memory by the
question.
have fondness for antiquity. These
old customs, melowed as they seem by
time their sharp corners worn off by
it's silent and invisible now-how it goes
to my heart to sec them vanishing like a
ghost by candle light? The fashions Of
, the day, like wine, want age.
ugh-this dry cough--boy, bring a
pitcher and bottle of-Lackady-my
pledge tlold-we will not drink.
Mine, alas! is thirst that many aratcrs
cannot quench. will chew little cam
momile.
Three weeks 1t seems an age. did
not believe when signed, that | should
be abs to abstain so long. What would