Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-01-12
For the Gazette.
d An CT G.,

We all know how prone the human
uiIid IS TO acknowledge error; how diff
cult 10 avoid that which the judgement con-
aemns, while the inclination approves and
that it requires 4 strong mind to break from
even the most tritiing habit, if indulged IN
lOr series Of years. Hence, the tobacco
chewer pleads habit-the snufi-taker that
It clears the head-the opium-eater that
il is a pleasant sensation for a moment,
lthough a - devil afterwards s)-the idler
that he has nothing to do, though employ
lrent NAV be had for the asking-thc pro-
fame swearer because he thinks such abomi-
nable language, delivered with staggering
air, genteel-and the drunkard quotes holy
writ, with a smile, - that little wine Is
rood for the body" When excuses are
thus framed for 50 many habits, is il won
,!erful that there should be those who con-
slider balls and public parties, composed of
a promiscuous assemblage,-good, bad, and
indifferent-as a proper place OF amuse-
ment for the young? Not at all, They
may honestly believe they are doing moth
ing wrong-allege that their fathers and
mothers did so before them, and no evil
resulted from it; and yet, if properly and
temperatelv examined they may come to
different conclusion.
Is there a father who plays cards for
even small sums Of money, who would
axe his children along with him and mi
tate them into the first scenes Of gambling
Hardened as many are TO all the better feel
ings of human nature, ! believe the most
degraded man who games away much that
ought to 20 to the support Of wife and
children, would pause ere he took his little
son bv the hand and led him to table for
the purpose. Of learning him to play cards
for penny a game. Yet there is in reaIi-
~ 10 harn in playing game Of cards for
.amuscnent-not a whit more so than dom
NOES. fox and goose with corn, or numbers
Of other plays in which youth takes de-
sight; bat there is an innate monitor within,
the still, small voice Of conscience =
which tells that father he would be taking
his son to the threshold Of gambling. and
he feels that he would be violating his duty
to God, to the partner Of his bosom TO the
child himself, and to the community, by
exposing him to such d temptation.
Such has also been tie case with Iiguor.
Years ago the first aci Of hospitality was
setting a bottle out for Ike yisiter, and i
was nothing uncommon to have bottle o.
whiskey or brandy daily on the dinner
table, and every round in the harvest field
was toasted BY all hands with dram.-
But it was found that many children who
had not the power 10 resist the temptation
became incorporate before arriving at years
oi maturity, and pang upon pang has beer
sent to the heart Of more than one father
and mother who had first placed The cur
10 blooming youth, now perhaps an ire
claimable drunkard. 1t may perhaps l.,
said that intemperancc still exists IN ~ grea
4 degree as ever. I'm some communitIc
probably it docs--it may he even in on
0wn--but if there is, {hc lore Of II Is ~
longer iniicd NJ hOnte- That spot, g
sacred and Lalowed to the memory Of al
who can took back into the vista Of til
past as the one most dear on earth, can n
.Ongc. be pointed u by The drunkard Is til