Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-04
Woman's Influence.

more potent, than that of Woman's Influence. |
1t is true, that to a great extent this noble c
enterprise has had this her words have \
soothed the fainting hearts of its friends, and ]
her eyes, beaming with light and promise,
have lighted up the darkest nights of their
trials. We intend bestowing no fulsome adj
~ulation on Woman's power. No, no. But
we assert that we do know, when we say her
power and influence is ~unbounded, when d.
rected in a good cause. Mans most cher
ished recollections are of q Mothers ~instruc-
tions and smiles and his earliest remem-
bered music, a sweet sisters voice and were
those maternal teachings, and that sisteriy
song always on the side of Temperance, and
warning him of the inebriate's cup, oh! how
many vain regrets and bitter repentant tears
it would save in the stern hours of his guilt
and folly in more advanced age.
In view of these facts, then, we would ask
our fair readers-has the influence you have
over the sterner sex, been exertedas it should
have been on the side of To @erance p
Have you as earnestly persuaded man from
the vile destroyer ofdomestic happiness-In-
temperance-as you should have done? We
fear not. We do not mean to charge neglect
and carelessness on our fair sisters, but we
mean that they have not been sufficiently |
aroused to the necessity Of taking a higher
stand, and therefore their powers have been
allowed to sleep. From their secluded life,
they see less of the glazing evils of i%ntemper-
ance than we of the opposite sex and it is
only when a husband, or brother, or son has
fallen under its Circe-like spell, that the sad
realities of its evils comes home to their ach-
ing hearts. Alas this happens too Oft
How frequently are the weeping wife, the
stricken sister, and the bowed, deeply bowed
mother, called upon to acknowledge with an
guished hearts its crushing power. How oft
have the sweet hopes that cast their fragrance
over the marriage altar, been blighted by the
Intoxicating cup +? How oft has the curst
destroyer torn from a happy family circle its
brightest ornament ? Let a Woman once
feel the evils of intemperance around her.
and her enthusiastic advocacy of temperance
principles knows no bounds.
But there are many who have never beer
called on to mourn it's desolating sway ovel
those they love. Their husbands are sober
their brothers and sons seek other societ,
than that to be found at the bar room. Blu
let us ask such, have not you, even in tina
happy event, a solemn and important dut,
to perform, in behalf Of Temperance?
FROM, n n otbar oauSa svmpethv for thosa pUb
have known this bitter experience, shout
urge you to our aid. Look back upon tn
histories of your early companions and schoo
mates. You loved them in youth, and Gel
tainly have not lost an interest in them no.
they have arrived at w~omanhood. What
their condition ? How many are the wive
of drunkards-the fathers and brothers {
how rrany have sunA into drunkaEd's graves
Where are their sAns, and what are thei
prospects? Car you not, in the retrospect
compare the happy face and merry laugh {
some childhood companion, with the sabl
mourning, grief-lined face and sad smile {
that same companion, now a sorrow stricken
heart-broken woman? Can any woman loo
NPOA SONu ~ olU " AGOA GiO OSCpCe
hostility to the intoxicating cup?
But we claim the cooperation of eve
those who have not personally suffered thes
evils, from a stronger incentive than that
sympathy. 1t is a prospective one. Yo
know not what a day or an hour may brin
forth. You know not how soon your brigf
sky may be overloaded. All are suscept
BILE to temptation-and the temperate hui
band, son or brother of to-day, may be til
drunkard of to-morrow. Who knows Not
ers, do you regard the happiness ofyOur chi
dren, and will you not aid in putting dow
! what may be their everlasting destruction
Thou trusting Wife, remember, that as mob
, as thy husband have fallen. Let every 81
: ter bear in mind the power she may exerci:
: over her brother, and let that power be exc
cised for his salvation. Remember, that
little e~xertion now, may save years of gri
Z hereafter. Let the smiles and admonitiol
: of the present, win from the cup the cause
! the futures sorrows.