The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-07-13
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A few Thoughts on Intemperance

A few Thoughts on Intemperance
By liberal but fair Interpretation Of the
j, term. intemperance admits of much more
extensive meaning than is usually attached
to it. 1t includes all excess, not only in
the use Of intoxicating liquors, but also il
eating, in the exercise Of the passions, and
in the indulgence Of any of the animal pro-
lpensities. The passion Of love. may glow
with incorporate heat; its intensity may
become % excessive, as to render it, for u
time, the despot Of the mind and the tor
ment of the heart; the system may wither
and dissolve under its dominion; or it may
lead, Gas it often does) to some dark catas-
trophe Of guilt. Envy, Jealousy, hatred
malice, and the love of gain, may all be
heightened to the pitch of intemperance. -
Health and reputation may be subverted by
them, and the body decay under their influ-
ence; the harmony and well being OF soeie-
ty may be disturbed by them and commu-
mites and nations desolated. Even religi-
Gus feeling itself having been subimed into
passion, has often turned to spirit of per-
secution, and led to the preparation Of acts
of extreme horror.
1ntemperance in eating, is too universal
amongu US either to meet censure or attract
notice, except in extraordinary cases, yet
it is our most besetting sin against our
Sc YES, principal source of our ailment and
a serious impcdiment to our elfieiencies
both bodily and mental. Incorporate cat
ing, is perhaps the most universal fault We
commit. We are al guilty oft with few
excePtions) from the cradle to the grave
It is the bane alike Of our infancy and
youth, our maturity and age. Its infinite
| ly more common than intemperance in
drinking, and the mischief it does is almost
universal. Go to our dinng-rooms, eating
shops, nurseries, and even in sick-rooms,
and you will find it in abundance.
Civilized man often eats from other mo-
! tives than hunger and Injuries himself BY the
custom, and he is the only animal that does
50. While every animal Of an inferior order
takes food in obedience to the cravings Of
appetite, man, in addition to this, eats for
amusement, for fashions sake, from coed
fellowship, and TO oblige a friend All
that is eaten from these inducements, is
unnecessary for subsistence and may be
correctly charged to the account Of intem-
perance. The evils of intemperance in
eating constitute long and frightful cata-
logue Of maladies, among which are dys-
pepsia, hypochondriasis, gout, rheumatism, 1,
dropsy, jaundice, collie, epilepsy, shapeless
4 .sso..J un1lnsisc er ups,s.s4 .tro
skin, &c. &C.. and frequently these conn
plants are communicated to postarty.-
Intemperate eating is often the exciting
cause Of fatal attacks of fever and even of
pestilence.
i The immoderate use of Tobacco is an
other form Of intemperance not only in
furious but highly deleterious. Tobacco is
peculiarly offensive to the animal kingdom;
all that is elegant in the insect tribe dread
and abhor it-no bird of beauty Of plumage
10 seen in the vicinity of its growth. The
vulture itself, that feeds on carrion, is reluc-
ttsnt to take its nauseous meal in the midst
Of it. There are but three sorts Of beings
that delight in it; the tobacco-corm, one of
the filthest and most disgusting Of crawlers
the rock-goat of Africa, whose 70 oulness
Of odor and filthiness of habit, make it an
object of aversion, which everything shuns;
and Man.
Il The two former kinds of tobacco mongers
we will leave to the full enjoyment OF their
savory food, and turn to the human lovers
ofthis noxious weed. We will not attempt
to solve the question, SO often discussed,
which Of the three modes of using tobacco,
is most disagreable and injurious! No one
has asked, which Is the most pleasing and
salutary! We will begin with smoking
II is as fragrant violation Of decorum for a
votary Of the cigar, to puff tobacco-smoke
into the face of lady, or any person to
whom it is dlsagreable, as to annoy them
by any other rude action. The very fact,
that smoking is prescribed from all places
Of real gentilty, ought to deter one from
the practice. Is one travelling in steam
boat; he is prohibited from smoking except
Lin place where his exhalations will not an
noy those to whom it is dlsagreablc. Is ne
residing in respectable hotel or boarding
house! he must retire from the dining room
or parlor to his own private room, or some
out of the way place, to resort to practice,
proclaimed by the restraint thus imposed
upon it, to be indecorous, and regale him
self in solitude with an odor noisome to ev-
cry one whose smell is not vitiated Is he
in place Of public amusement! he is for
hidden to pollute any part Of il by the foul
fumigation. Thus is cigar thrust
from polished society, as petty-larceny IS
from moral society.
We will close our remarks upon smoking
by stating ludicrous occurrence connected
with this subject which took place in the
early period of this country. At grand
dinner given to Franklin on his return to
philadelphia from Europe, where he had
acted in the capacity OF American Minister,
he was seated beside Clergyman whose
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