The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-13
For the Columbian Fountain.

SPEECH
delivered at the Baptist Church, near the
'.Napy Yard, on The 20h inst, by JAMES
LTTLE.
lContnued.)
Secondly.-The effects of liquor on the
mental constitution are various some OF
them appear in the conduct, which is al
ways governed by the degrees Of intemper-
ance. There are, according to my estima-
ton, three degrees Of intemperance.
The first is that in which the individual is
seldom or never drunk and this may be
called the wine or fashionable degree.
The second is that in which the individ-
ual does, sometimes, get intoxicated; and,
though he endeavors to conceal the fact
from public view, yet, let him do what he
may, it will sometimes appear. This may
be termed the wine and brandy, or the un-
fashionable degree.
The third is that in which the person gets
drunk whenever it is convenient for him to
do so; nor does he endeavor to conceal the
fact from public view, it being immaterial to
him whether it be known or not. This
may be denominaed the wine, brandy,
whisky, rum and gin degree, or the degree
Of degradation. It is the last degree in the
order of intemperance; and there may be
some here who are acquainted with its
mysteries.
never went farther than the second de-
gree; and to convey an idea Of some Of its
peculiarities, | will relate an anecdote. Be-
ing i'll Alexandria on the occasion Of the
whig festival, in the fall Of 1910, I.was in
vited to dine at the house of a gentleman of
that city. accepted the invitation, and, at
a seasonable hour, went to the house Up
on the ringing Of the bell, repaired to the
dining room and sat down, with number
Of ladies and gentlemen, to dinner. ! had
the honor to be seated between two ladies.
At each plate was Wine-glass, and on the
table were several decanters containing
wine. After some time had been spent in
the work of mastication, seeing that nobody
noticed the wine, and fearing that it might
be forgotten altogether, ] rose, and, by way
Of excuse, observed, "Ladies, excuse my
forgetfulness then, taking decanter, !
filled the glasses Of the ladies nearest to me,
and then my glass. Having replaced the
decanter resumed my seat, conveyed the
glass to my lips, and swallowed its contents
at single gulp. This was the cue for
general filling. The wine which I.had Just
drank sharpened "the hungry edge Of ap-
petite;;" and, in order to take another glass
with seeming proprety, remarked, as if
suddenly recollecting: 90! ladies', | neg
lected to drink 10 your health :" reflling my
glass, ! said, Ladies', your health,,'' and
then turned off the wine. AT that moment
the host, who was engaged in dealing out
the nectar, asked to be allowed to refill my
glass. ], of course, made no objection, and
he reflled it, when | Immediately disposed
of its contents. By this time the ladies'
glasses were empty, and begged to be fa-
vored with the honor Of replenishing: did
replenish them, not forgetting mine at the
same time. A gentleman from Virginia, an
exquisite, who occupied seat at the table
directly opposite to mine, was discanting
most learnedly on wines. 81 am,'' said he,
remarkably fond of Teneriff; Madeira is
rather strong for me, though ! sometimes
indulge small glass" He had just finish
ed his second glass of Madeira, and was
filling up his third, when he made that re-
mark. He was, also, member Of the
second degree, though he desired to impress
upon the mind Of the company the fact that
he was a member Of the first; but actions
always speak louder than words.
Now, this anecdote, or rather these anec-
dotes, (for undesignedly related two serve
to illustrate the fact that the mind Of him
who uses liquor suffers itself to be governed,
invariably, by an influence which his judg-
ment condemns. My conduct on that occa-
sion was reprehensible, and knew it to be
so Mt the time: nevertheless I was induced