Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-02
WHAT Is 1T rODE DRUNK
NO. Nv.

OtltT CNustS, lS lll'NtNIS'A
with bgolry and intolerable iusolence.-
No cause can have any solid and per-
nancnt founIaion 10 rest upon, but
trnth. Few things can be more silly
and scnselcss Than II practice, among
some OF our more jealous associates, OF
denouncing, It's Incorporate men, If not
dbsoiute drunkardS. hll, who are not
pledged members Of some temperance
sorie,y aud who still persist in the use
OF alcohol. as IA beverage. even in the
greatest moderation Such allegat ons
are not only utterly false. IN IA multitude
of cases, hut cminently unwlse, and i'm
polite. y-....
| have known individuals. distinguish
ed for learning wisdom, and virtue, who
began to 1--we, long ago, before temper
| ance societies were born, ana who ear
iy contracted the very general habit Of
using alcohol, in some form, and who
have used il, with great moderation, tor
very many years These individuals
| had formed a favor able opinion OF the
temperance movcment--gave II kind
words oi commendat.on-cheeriL,ly con-
tributed TO the support Of lecturers, and
| he circulation Of tracts and Journals
some Of them, perhaps, were more than
| half inclined, To give up their habit, how
ever harmless they may have esteemed
| it, ia their own particular cases, asa
sacrifice, upon the affairs Of phianthro-
py. Such persona like the holders of
slaves, in many instances, who were
more than half inclined to emancip pate
them, have been turned from their pur-
poses, and thoroughly disgusted, by the
coarse, unjust, and unchrlstlan terms,
which have been applied TO them, by
lhc conductors Of certain journals, who,
TOO frequently, suppose, that fury will
be deemed ancvidcnce OF zeal, end rhc-
lorical Bilingsgatc, Of talent. OF my
own positive knowledge know such
cases to have occurred.
The sacrifice OF total abstinence, to
the rising generation, is nothing-th
boon is everything. They simply re-
solve not to contract a habit, which, too
| frequently, leads to ruin and verify
they have their reward. II is far other
wise with those, who have already con-
tracted the habit Of daily using alcohol,
even in the most moderate quantities
| and who commenced the use Of il, when
the practice, was not only accounted
perfectly respectable, bat when il was
fi- more remarkable, in the breach, than
in the observance.
ale, who has had no experience"
said venerable clergyman, once. in my
hearing, thinks we cum throw of our
old habit Of taking cheerful glass, AS
easily, as we throw Han old slipper
-Sudct mul,uin frus,raquc Iaboret
Ausus idem.-"
Judge Wood, OF marlborough, AS
sured. me, IN I one Of the greatest sac
riiices he ever made was the surrender
Of his customary, temperate glass OF
brandy and water He had taken il tor
many years, with the most perfect sys-
TEN and regularity. and resigned II, sole
ly for the sakc of contributing the force
OF his example, in aid ofthe reformation.
The rising generation can form but
an imperfect idea Of the high consdera-
ton. in which their ancestors held that
very article, which is now Justly account
ed the curse Of mankind. il was sup
posed TO be not less necessary Of life,
Than meat. fire. and clothes. The re-
tail traffic was confded, by Legislative
| enact to "nlen OF sober iires and
conversations :" not. 10 be sure, because
there was anything particularly honor
able, in the trust, but because Of the
perilous character Of the commodity.-
The fore finger of the law Sc, med TO be
pointed, directly, a: the deacons. So
very generally we're deacons rumscllers.
in the olden time, that an old resident Of
northampton states that d very worth
less fellow having been, too hastily. ap.
pointed n rumselier, to supply tie place
Of departed ruling eluer, who had CIV
en- general satisfaction, the new incum-
complimented. with the sobriquet Of
"thc Deacon"
A man, who had no alcohol. under
| his roof To give visitor, was accounted
| a more worthless character, than n SIMS
culotte. The Roman prejudice against
the water drinking habits OF Cassms
were very universal. The condition Of
public sentiment some fl:y years ago,
cannot, perhaps, he more truly and for.
| cibly presented, than by the recitation
| Of little anecdote.
Rid ing OH horseback in the neighbor-
| hood Of Nashua, about sixteen years ago
| overlook and fell into discourse with, a
well-dresscd, and very old man, travel
ling on foot. AS soon found him to be
exceedingly deaf | dismonnled, ard
walked by his side. asked him what
progress temperance was making, in
that part of the country. 'Teu uperance,'
SAID he with laugh, "what can you
know, about temperance "Vc:y lit
tie" said |, "but am not ashamed to
confess my ignorance, il can get any
thing by it,"
The old man proceeded, with an anu
sing qunintncss of language and man
ner. to contrast the present with the past.
Did you ever hear Of old Squire Var
mum ofDracut ~ said he. replied, that
had. "Well," he continued, "did you
ever see a jus,Ifcalion2" ~ have
heard" said |, "oi justification by faith,
| but | was not aware, that sucE a thing
could be seen," "Pshaw," said my new
/ acquaintance, "there's no faith about it
mean making Justce o. Peace.
saw old Squire Varnum justify his son.
Twas at the tavern, and twas necessa-
| ry 10 have two justices 10 do il. one COM
mon justice, and one o. the Quorum
| There was a great time. Two clergy
men were present ani all the secctmcn.
The young jusIre treated; and there
was plenty Of punch, and flP, and tod
dy; and every hCdy drank his health,
| and shook hands with him. But the
best par, o. il alI was old Justice Var
nuns charge 10 his SOL, alter he was
| justified. sSIr' said the old gentleman,