Spirit of the age., 1853-05-11
Work vet to do,

Work yet to do!
Notwithstanding the great advances that
nave been made in the Temperance reform
within the last few notwithstanding |
The partial removal of many barriers that
have stood hitherto in the way of its progress,
and although more congenial and healthy
tone of public opinion is nominally and SEN
engendered and expressed, yet, ex-
practically, radically, there is
much yet to be performed before the pillars
OF the monstrous edifce Of error and ini-
guilty will be undermined and expelled
from respectable society. theoretically, all
men, from the wine-pimpled debauchee of
the luxurious palace down to the wretched
visiter of the low doggery, all admit that in
temperance is an evil-all unite in condem-
ming the course of the inebriate, and in hear
tily desiring to see the time when drunken
ness will no more be known in the land
But no sooner have they finished their dep
recations and denunciations, than they turn
to the vile Rum-god and pay homage at his
shrine!
This is the spirit of sympathy and abhor-
renee that we have to contend against. Is
there to be meeting at the festive board ?
the health of guests and friends must be
pledged in the fiery draught which guilt pre-
pares for folly, and the scene of social hospi-
tality and greetings is changed tor that of
Baeehanalian shouts, and confusion and dis
graceful rowdyism reign supreme, to the ex-
pulsion and disgust of the orderly and dis
Greet portion of the company. In the con-
vivial party-around the social circle, the
rosy wine cup must be introduced, to give
zest to the entertainment, sharpen wit and
give charms to the scene which the enter
tainers nor their guests are capable Of inspi-
ringl Huniliating, disrespectful fuladmission'
The friends of Temperance have too long
fattered themselves that because in most ca
ses the decanters have been removed from
the side-boards- the custom of lead
ing visitors up to the. bottle has grown obso
lete in great measure-that because tht
dwellings of gentlemen are not now mad
bar-rooms of, as in days Of yore, when friend
and neighbors called to spend social hour
that therefore, the drinking customs Of re
fined, respectable society were fast dying out
and would soon be extinct. But, alas i
too many instances, the decanter has bee
removed but to be succeeded by its more CO
pacious kinsman, the demVohn and a
+I,o, rrI II -; co,,,o1II,o+ roro +o ;py+o
to join you in glass, unless his propens
ties are well known, yet many who profes
great friendship and veneration for the Ten
perance cause, when in the presence Of Ten
perance men, do, we fear, long and oft-r
peated devotions to their jugs and demijohn
: And Ladies, too, upon whose lips there is e
er a word Of g God speed the Temperanc
i cause" they, too, are often to be found pr
senting the enchanting cup and with smil
= and Establishments Turing the unfortuna
victim to his ruin
These are the influences against which Y
have to fight-secret, disguised sinister, V
destructive in the extreme. If we could 70
out these practices-cause these customs
be abandoned, then we might well exult ov
the destruction of the great obstacle to sec
ring the aid and cooperation Of the exalte
oo ae the refined and influential of the land, in
OF half of the great reform. Here, then, is roc
for the exercise of moral suasion, and he
ne let us exercise it until the demon is dethron
~ from his position of excellence and respcc
sc bility.