The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-12-12

TEMPERANCE IN WINE COUNTRIES.

MY observations IN France, as we'll
as in Germany and Italy (says Dur
bin, in Ills "Obscrvations on the His.
tory of Eucopc"), satisfy me that the
people i'll wine. growing countries are
much more temperate than in the North
of Europe and in America. The com
mon wines which are used on the soil
that produces them DO rot intoxicate,
but nourish, forming a lrage item in
deed in the pabul'tm of the peasant.
When he goes out to his daily toll he
carries with him loaf of coarse black
bread and a cantecn of wine, and these
refresh and sustain him: he rarely
tastes meat, butter and cheese. This
en- orainairc makes part of his break.
fast, of his dinner, and of his evening
meal; and costs him, perhaps, two or
:hrcc cents bottle, if he pun chase it.
1t is the juice Of the grape, not dcri-
wing its body or taste from an infusion
ofspirit and skiltul combination of drugs
as in our country, but from the genial
soil and bcncticient sun. The truth Of
what l have here said is supported by
the general remark, that drunkenness
is but seldom seen in France; and when
it is, it does not proceed from the use
Of the common wine which enters so
largely into the sustcnance Of the peas
antry and common people, but from
brandy and foreign wines, particularly
the first, to the allurements of which
the hard-workcd and closely confined
mechanics, artizans, and dense factory
populations of the capital and large
towns are particularly exposed. 1 am
obliged to believe that tho use on the
soil of any native wines il, any country
isconducive to health, cheerfulncss, and
temperance; andI am as equally con-
vinccd that all foreign vines arc ininri-
Gus in all these rcspec..s. Hence the
bad effects Of the vines imported and
used in England and America.
There is great difference between
the power Of giving good advice and the
ability to act upon it, Theoretical
wisdom is, perhaps, rarely associated
with practical wisdom; and we often
find that men of no talent whatever
contriyc to puss through life with credit
and propriety, under the guidance Of
kind of instinct: These are the per.
sons who seem to stumble, by mere
good luck, upon the philosophers stonc.
In the commerce of life every thing
they ,ouch seems to turn into gold.
It's not essential 20 the happy home
that there should be the luxury of the
carpctcl floor, the richly cushioned SO.
ia, the soft shade of the astral lamp. =
These clcYancics Gid the apartments,
but they reach not the heart. 1t is
ncatncss, order, and a cheerful heart
which make home that sweet paradise
it 50 often is found to be. There is
joy, as real, rs heartfelt, by the cottage
iirc.sidc, as in the most splendid s;,-
looms of wealth and rc6ncmcnt.-
What a lovely picture has Burns given
us Of the return Of the cottagcr to his
home, after the labours Of the day
al length his lonely appears in view,
licnrath The shelter Of an aged tree,
The ryneci.nt 'rv..> thy, tSa$'frS, s,agger
through,
To meet ,her dad, with llu,,erng noise ard
cice.
lis clean heath s'onr, his thrift. w.ilv's smile,
The iisr'ng infant prnitl'ng on his kns",
Drts all his weary ca'king carrs bcguiic,
Aud m"kr> han quis irrsot his lnb"ur aud
i,s toni"
The luxurics and clcgancics of life are
not to be dcspiscd. They arc to be re,
ccivcd with gratitude to Him who has
provided them for our enjoyment. But
their possessions does not insure happi-
ness. The sources Of true Joys are not
50 shallow. Some persons, like some
reptiles, have the faculty Of extracting
poison from everything that's beautiful
and sweet; others, like the bee, will
gather honey from sources in which we
should think no sweet could be found.
The cheerful heart, like the kaleido-
scope, causes most discordant matcri-
ais to arrange themselves into harmony
and bcanty.
OcCUrATIoN FOR CnILDREN.---Thc
habits Of children prove that occupation
is a necessity with most of them
They love to be busy even about moth
ing, still more to be usctully employed.
With some children it is n strongly de-
veloped physical necessity, and if not
turned to good account, will be produc-
tive of positive evil, thus verifying the
old adagc, that "idlcncss is the mother
Of mischief" Children should be en-
or if independent, diciplined
into performing for themselves every
little Office relative to their toilet, which
they are capable of performing. They
should also keep their own clothes and
other possessions, iii neat order, and
fetch for themselves whatever they
want; in short they should learn to be
rs independent of the seryices of others