Grass Valley telegraph., 1853-10-20
Written for the Grass Valley Telegraph.
THE VALUE OF A DRINK.

bluff, eorpulent man, at my elbow, whose lace
presents five large brandy blossoms" says,
that depends on the quality of the liquor!-
But, I think, says another, it depends on its
good or bad influence on ones health and
happiness -Pecuniary gain is the great pur-
suit of most men, in California, as means of
happiness tho deprived Of health, wealth
cannot produce personal happiness and ao1th
it, Icontend, only, as it enables us to contri-
butte to the happiness of others. Be this, as
it may, all are striving to get rich, and letus
see how far this g consumation, so devoutly
wished" is delayed. by the habit of liquor
drinking.
We I've men, here, indulge in glass OF Ii
| quor, at two bits, who at home, would deny
the qualification of the appetite, at three cts,
from feeling of rigid economy. The custo-
mary rate of interest on money, in Califor-
MIA, has never been less than five per cent,
! per month, and is likely to continue so. Has
any one, who indulges in even one glass per
day, ever made an estimate of its cost, at the
end of ten years, put at interest, at the above
rate? [ advise some Of our Yankee drinkers,
who are good at "cyphering," to make
kalkulashatn, and will risk the assertion, it
will create surprise, if it produce no reforma-
ton in the habit. They will find, that the
cost of drink, at two bits, put at interest,
for ten years, at five per cent per month, will
produce the snug little sum Of $86 81. Thus,
one months indulgence, at one glass per day,
| (Which is a very low estimate, for a temperate
drinker, even would cost man, ten years
hence, only $2591, 10; and one years graft
! fcation, at the same rate, the fortune Of $751;
525,O5. In these calculations, the fractions
are omitted, which would increase the amount.
Is there any "torty-sai'aer," who curses his
ill-fortune, that ever thought, the four bit
drink, he swallowed in October, 1849, with
what would have been its accumulated inter-
4 est, to this time, would amount to $26 81?
enough to pay months comfortable board
or purchase suit of warm clothing!
How many men of "elegant leisure" Go
we meet, who profess to regard refusal to join
! in a social drink, as Indicative Of spirit Of
meanness; and curse the inability, or un-
willingness Of men, to pay an honest obliga-
! ton, who have been induced to squander their
means, in drinking and riot, by the example
of their 0aU7 habits! These men too, de-
plore their ill-fortune, and envy the prosperi-
| ty of others, without consulting causes. How
many destitute, among us, might be relieved
tc1eaks-noW wan and siclllv. be made to
glow with health; and familiss at home, des-
titute, be made glad, by the present value of
| a few social drinks. inbibed by the husband
and father, the first week, or month of his So
jourp, in this country!l We have some
among us, even now, whom sickness and mis-
fortune have visited, heavily; and who have
not wherewith to sustain life, even, unaided
by the charity of strangers. Would net the
| consciousness of having relieved such suffer-
ing and destitutiOn, produce sensations, more
sweet, than was the taste of that glass of IL
quor? Let your own heart respond. Who
will read the tale @ Hot Corn" in No. 3, of
the Telegraph, and then hesitate between the
agency Of such scenes Of misery, and the min
hoeCII1S cputG VI IGlIcl otIiu COISOIdGlOH
Who would swallow fortunes to crafty an
acquired appetite, when so small selfdenial
could, perhaps, restore to life happiness, and
joyous home, the innocent victims of this
evil, and the prototypes of little Katy?"
It has surprised me, that men, so welded
to money, as are thousands, who come to
delve in. our mountains for gold, should yield
such willing and complete submission to a
habit, which appeals, so strongly, to the
purse for, tho many men will not yield to
moral principle, their souls may be reached
through the pocket. Long observation has
convinced me, that the confirmed habit of
drinking liquor, is as tenacious as life and
could point to some most painful cases, among
as, who, with even the first cost Of this hab-
it, to say nothing of the accumulations of in
terest, would render comfortable and happy,
their wives and children, who I" cry for bread"
in far distant home and who sigh and
plead for their return. And oh what untold
agony would pierce their souls, could they
witness scenes, which are enacted before oar
eyes, by their sworn protectors!
am trespassing on space; for commenc-
ed, only, to giyea result, in dollars and cents,
which had the curiosity to make but
cannot repress the word of caution, to the
thoughtless and the unfortunate victims and