Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-16
GO MN
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
A voice from Work-house, Hospital and
Jail.

regrtJ all. - !
Who can read EDeQuincy's Opium Eater
without shivering at the horrible picture pre-
scented, of the consequent effect produced by
the hahitual and systematic use of Opium,
as excmplifed in his own person. A servi
tude from which he was exempted at last, by
the energetic struggling of a rare and phil
Osophically determined will.
A physician of no mean reputation IN the
healing art, remarked on one occasion, in re-
ference to DeQuincy's book, that g it contain
ed the truest description of the effect of mar
cotic indulgence he had ever read and that
as detrimental as was the tendency of Bran
DIV, the continued use of Opium, would as
surely result in Delerium Tremens, and was
therefore as fatal often, in It's termination, as
the former" The question land in all kind
ly memory be it revealed suggested itself
why should Doctors, then, SO freely admins
ter MGt which will pervert the heart, derange
the judgement; and destroy the body? To
soothe the restless tossing of the sufferer, to
hush to sleep the anguish of racking pain, 1t
may sometimes prove Indispensable but is
it not often in trivial cases prescribed, and
u~selessly repeated? Then, do they not too
frequently become, in some slight measure,
the agent of the instrument that produces
what ruin of life-body, soul, to ever
lasting destruction, originating crime, pollu-
ton, lunacy and death! Would they might
pause and think. That they could view in
the seductive potion, the renewed birth OF
that serpent, that with graceful bearing and
glistening eyes, wreathes the red wine cup,
! looks into it and coils in its depths-so at the
last sit biteth and stingeth as an adder" And
o, that those who rule the destinies of ma
tions, and those who enforce the laws of our
own country, would diSc0Uer, that there IS
another enemy in our midst, as baneful In
{ its influence as alcohol; as seductive IN Its
allurements Pure hearts have been sullied
d by the poisoned serpent touch-until heart
buds-as rose buds-withered, and the foul
e viper breathing, blew away as dead leaves
" from the stately youngforesttree byautumns
> searching wind, the ashes of all that once
. glowed in that human bosom, and made it
I good and true. And the ties that bind on
= ~earth-those graceful household loves-so
$, beautiful to the leaning heart, how bleeding
Iy, has this ruin torn asunder. How memo
l. nv thrills into consciousness, and looks tear
fully into the quiet rebuking face of Truth,
\ (resolved to listen to it's silent teachings al
ways when lifting the pail of the past, there
or bow noble forms in agony, at the desolation
a caused thereby! The shrieking spirit of the
parent, dying out, in the effort to stay the
a. hand of a child, in whom his affections are
- bound up, from the cup that maddens while
I IL SOOUIlcS. DuU uccu0u HOT, Is Glc dlSu1ch "
nc a father, noble hearted-the tears that waste
ut the pale cheek of a mother fond and doting
les That the habit is easily contracted, admits
out of no doubt, and he that uses Opium viii
rht love Rum, and like its twin-brother (thougl
the eyes of the community may not be opeI
y, to it's full existence,) the charm is envelop
me ing, to some fearful extent, every grade
ed g the vu~lgar-working poor" God bless then
ted and gather them in shelter from the storm!
ch. the wealth of nobility, the pride of gold, tn
can treasure of genius-those who should wea
on their brows land surely in their hearts
~" the seal of the Most High, and-alas alas
you those, who, with pulpit eloquence aspire
ana show the way to Heaven.
be- The distinguishing difference in the actio
of Opium and ardent spirits (see johnson
Chemistry of Common Life, vol. 2, p. 100
consists in the fact, that the operation is il
nos, terrupted and lessened by disturbance ar
oils bodily action, while the latter is diminisht
1nso by stIlt5nees ahhfHHfa f fffeRRRfafrks MI. johnson,
conclusion) wonder, that with the enticir
descriptions the history of narcotics present
"nu that man, whose constant search on earth
ne ; after happiness, and who, too often disa
pointed here, hopes and longs, and striv
and to fit himself for happiness hereafter,
noly cannot wonder that he should at times
it Of caught by the tinselly glare of this corps
- cal felicity, and yield himself to habits whic
> N01 though exquisitely delightful at first, lie
him finally both to torture of body and
carer misery of mind. That, debilitated by t
nd if excuses to which 1T provokes, he should 81
into more and more under the influenced a me
- drug, and become at last a fettered slave
~ it's tempting distinctions"
lux Alas alas! for manly strength to oy
her come successfully, so long as there is
hitch Legislative enactment to exterminate
land evil, to bind the hand of the Druggist in
act of sale-to limit the remedy to the pr
ent and Immediately sole use of the PHI
'rltcs clan with the patient in charge. Until,
g all repeat, this law originates, and is enforc
stters our land must mourn, for deeper is grow
s re- the drapery of darkness-more distinctly
self Idle are becoming the thlckened tolds-to
m;s. usurped only by the cold winding shee
az death-or living still, to glare forth W
{ Tue frenzied eyes from the grated window
; out our Lunatic Asylums, and to dwell in til
lystlc walls within which guilt and misery live
OF all Walls strong and mighty, the rampant of
N her drunkards palace, to attain which he tire
dear step by step through paths more rugged t
f tbo the Alpine cliffs scaled by the fearless III
bal: trampling out purity, virtue, 10
hope, that stays longest with us, and O
If at a life ITSELF
gown In conclusion life Is real, life IS earn
It, his so Tar as our labors are concerned and
nhro;. eternal interests influenced thereby. v
,rovod then, in token of silent sympathy, will c
mode. forth With ne; IN ON bo+tlo aGa;nSt w~o
With a not in pityine sorrow for the weak alone,
nathe- in +" earnest, patient, cheerful endeavou
ito remembering that,
He is Wise men neer wall their present woes,
$ over But presently prevent the ways to wall"
nus From one who %MoURNFULLY REMEME
with Raleigh. January 10. 1856.