Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-07-27
Influence of Ardent Spirits.

nuit CnemlCdl
Ardent spirits of every variety are little else than
alcohol diluted with large proportion OF WATER and
favored with minute admxture OF volatile OIL the
nrecise action of which upon the system is not known
They contain none, therefore, of the common forms
of nutrye matter which exist in our usual varieties
If animal and vegetable food 1t does not follow from
this however as some have too broadly alleged, that
thew are incapable of serving any useful purpose in
the animal economy. On the contrary, 1t is ascer-
tanned of ardent spirits
F;r,t That thew directly warm the body, and by
the changes they undergo in the blood supply por-
ton of the carbonc acid and watery vapor which, as
necessity of lite are constantly beng gwen OF oy
the lungs They so far, however, supply the place
of food-of the fat and starch Tor example-wmch
we usually eat Hence schnapps, in Germany,
with slice of lean dried meat, make mixture like
that of the starch and gluten in Bread which IS
capable of feeding the body. So we either add su'
gar to milk, take spirits along with it Gold man
milk for tie purpose of adjusting the proportion OF
the ingredients suitably to the constitution, or
TO the circumstances in which it is to be consumed
Second That they diminish the absolute amount OF
matter usually given off by the lungs and the kidneys
They thus lessen, as tea and coffee do. the natural
waste of the fat and the tissues, and they necessarily
diminish, in equal degree the quantity of ordinary
food which is necessary TO keep the weight OF the
body In other words, they have the property OF
making given weight of food go farther in sustain
ing the strength and bulk of the body. And in ad-
diton TO the saving OF material thus effected. they
ease and Tighten the labor of the digestive orga IS
which, when the stomach is weak, is often most
valuable result
Hence fermented liquors, if otherwise suitable to !
the constitution, beneficial influence upon
old people, and other weakly persons whose fat and
tissues have begun to waste-in whom the process
of Digestion that is, does not replace the tissues as
fast they naturally waste. This lessening in
weight or substance is one of the most usual conse
quences n the approach OF old age. 1t IS Il common
symphonic the decline of life The stomach either
does receive does not digest food enough to re-
place that which is daily removed from the substance
of the body. Weak alcoholic drinks arrest or retar1
and diminish the daily amount of this loss OF
substance They gently stimulate the digestive or
gans also, and help them 10 do their work fully
and faithfully; and thus the body is sustained to
later period in life. Hence poets have called wine
g the milk of the DID, and scientific philosophy owns
the propriey of the term If does not nourish the
old so directly milk nourishes the young, yet it
certainly does aid in supporting and filling up their
failing frames. And it IS one OF the happy conse-
quences of a temperate youth and manhood that this
spiriuous milk does not fail in it's good effects when
| the weight of years begins to press upon us.
All this, of course, in way lustlhes the lndu-
gence in fermented liquors of any kind to excess or
paates the moral evils to witch this lnvarla
bly, gives rise The good results | have spoken of
follow only from moderate of them. But the
peculiar danger attendant upon the consumption OF
intoxicating drinks arises from their extreme seduc-
tveness, and from the all but unconquerabe strength
of the drinking habit when once formed. Their pc
|
tanned mastery--n their becoming the parent and
nurse of every kind of suffering, immortality and
crime.
War Spirit II RUSSIA.
A private letter from St. Petersburg to one Of the
editors of this paper, presents vivid picture of af
fairs at that capital. We DO not sympathze in the
strong Russian feelings Of the writer but we give
our readers the following extract as it aft ,rds a
glimpse from the seat Of war. The letter is dated
June 5th :-Erchange.
! g" have now been here three weeks, and
many things to interest me. | have been well re-
ceived wherever have been; and | assure you that
| am quite AS much Russian as was before lett
the United States. AS for the war, there appears to
fight it out. The nation is with the Emperor and is
resoue 10 yield to the demands of the Allies.
Everything here is military, and in preparation for
war. day since | went to the Founding
Hospital, and there found large number of females
making bandages, and others scrapng lint, for the
! soldiers that are wounded. | letter from
surgeon at Sebasopol saying that the battle of the
night before had added sixteen hundred TO their
wounded Day before yesterday went down to
Cronstad on board a steamer that took large party
pleasure excursion to the Allied feet which
lies about five miles from the forts We sailed all
round the forts and the men of which placed
TO defend the town. was told that there were
hundred thousand men board the ships and in the
forts
The scene was highly exciting. AS we swept
over the water the band played stirring national airs
and the multitude on board burst forth i'm repeated
cheers TO the forts and ships, which were echoed
back in loud hurrahs from the sailors on the ships
and the soldiers in the FORTS while in the distance
we could distinctly the Allies taking down their
spars and topmasts, preparing for battle AS was
gazing at the magnificent array, an old gentleman,
> standing by me, who could speak English said with
good deal of feeling What a scene Here are we
on pleasure party, sailing the water that must
soon be red with much blood. cannot enjoy it.
IAN attack is now hourly expected. have
made arrangements to 60 at TO hill about
three miles from the scene of action where can see
every shot that is fred. DO not want an attack to
take place, but if there is to be want it,
will write you full account of it soon as posi-
BILE My opinion is that the Allies will be
beaten, but it may be because want to have them,
or because am not good judge of the matter
How long | shall be detained here cannot tell
may leave for home by the first of July, though
now think of taking trip to Odessa, Theodosa, and
. Sebastopo 10 look at route for a railroad This
: would keep me here until November At first
found 1T very difficult to get about without an inter
prefer But now | can ask for everything wish in
=, Russian, and think if | should stay here three OF
y four months, could speak it very we'll"
f New York Evangelist
&C take the broad ground ttat man IS alone respon
s16e TO has Creator for his religious fa and that M
human potrer has any right to interfere IN, the matter
or to prescribe any particular opinions as test of fit
ness for office. If Hindoo were to come among us
and fully qualified to discharge the duties Of any
othce to Which he might aspire, his religious belle
- would not constitute an objection, in my opinion
>, why he should be debarred Who made man ;
. Judge, that he should presume to interfere in TIN
sacred rights of conscience! | have ALWAYS though
that mixture OF politics and religion is the very es
sence OF hypocrisy "-Ertrdct from the speech of Ma
> hGaa1el Macon IN ". c. Convention
Mr.