Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-30
Appea1 to tle Iadies Of America.

BY REV. A. L. sroNE.-Conciaded.
vii you bear with us while we tell you
wkqt zoe pould haze ycu do.
First of all-never put the glass 10 your
Opn lips. We do not say this because we
fear you will so far forget deieacy, refinement
and w~omanhood, as to fall into ebriety. And
vet this most loathsome spectacle of fallen
humanity has been exhibited. But apart
from this issue every lady who takes the
wine-class, lends all the charm Of her man
nds, all the graccs If her mind, and all the
captivation Of her social qualities to give cur
rency to wine-drinking in the circle in which
she moves. 1t cannot be thought a beastly
excess to copy the example ola refined and
cultivated woman What Young man can
pronounce the habit degrading, or brutali-
zing, when thus vindicated before hiseyes BY
those whom he chiefly esteems and admires?
An association with the glass is thus created
which follows it every where-finging a
round it a poetry, a romance, which hide all
its deEormity and wreath it over with flowers.
In scenes of excess where woman mingles not
her hand still graces the goblet, and endors-
es the reveI. From such a fatal influence,
keep your example, We entreat you, forever
guiltless.
NEVER PUT THE GLASS INTO THE HAND OF
YOUNG MAN. You know not how terrible
shall be the issue of that one thoughtless act.
He has, ere he met you, perhaps, felt his
danger. He has been compelled to confess
to his heart the growing of a habit which he
trsces back to some such scene as this in
which he stands by your side. On the brink
ofthe abyss he has started back and sought
to untwine the chords that were dragging
him down. He is struggling like a wrestler
with his appetite. He is yet weak before it
giant power. If he yield a hair, if he allow
It the least vantage, it will re-assert It's do
minion, he is It's slave for life. He enter
the circle where you meet him with his bes
resolves. fearful eyes follow him-the ag
onv Of PRAYER goes with him-for other heart
are bound up in him. You are has tenn
tressl With pleasant smiles and kind word
YOU reach him the ruby draught. How ca
he resistg You have armed his old enem
AGAINST him. If he hesitate, some halfr'
pToachful word, some new charm, the viii
pered spell, "You will drink with me-" el
sures the victory. You turn from him we
pleased with your little triumph-the COME
sionofyour power. All, what have you don
Outblazes again the flame so nearly smot
cred. The demon of appetite within hi
takes the mastery again-it will be sated-
cries vehemently, "give, gioe, GIvE"-it W
have its qualification, in the face Of brok
vows, ruined hopes, wrecked fortunes, bligl
ed household peace, dishonor, despair, deaf
it viii have what it Graves. From his dyI
chamber, or his cell Of doom, whittier tu
his accusing eye Back to that form
grace and beauty that stood by his side
the festal eve-and babe him pledge her
in the wine-back, to you oh, smiling maid
Oh, honored matron! Had you dreamed
this 0 would sooner have cut offyourri j
hand than offered the fatal lure. And J
cannot know that all this may notfollow
such thoughtless act. VII you venture s.
an awful hazard 2 Were it not much
you to feel and say, when such histories
Fecited, II hare not helped this ruin
what right have you to be strewing the P
to a dishonored grave with roses and gid
it with smiles Who has given you lie
to introduce the young men who seek y
society into paths, which, ifthey follow til
lead them in such numbers to a miseri
endl Take the resolution, again we
seech you, neper, NEVER, to pour the '
for another and commendit with your cha
TO his lips. Set the example of banisl
from the sideboard, the service of glass.
mid the elegant profusion to which you
vite your guests, let not the sparkle of
wine be seen. Purer shall be the sparl
aow Of mirth and wit that take their ins
ton from sparkling water.
NEVER YOUR PATRONAGE IN any
to those aOho sell ardent spirits as a 6eUe
II tradesmen dealing in the poison, who
still any character to lose, were deserte
all excsptt their tipping customers, they {
not hold up their heads single day,