Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-13
DRINKING WHEN ONE PLEAsEs.


ri drink when I please, and let it alone
when I please" is common self.excusing
remark of those who indulge in the use of
Intoxicating drinks. 1t would seem from the
manner in which they employ the argument
that they have an idea that there is another
class of drinkers who sometimes take their
glass when they do not please to do so, or,
in other words, at times when they know it
is not best for their own comfort and interest,
and these they consider much lowerin grade
and far more debased than they. It is rath-
er in boasting manner that they use the
stereotyped expression. as if to prove their
power of resistance to crafty apuugent thirst
that all are ready to agree to follow those
who practice drinking to any extent.
Now, it must be extremely difficult for
such boosters to determine satisfactorily to
themselves the time to drink, so as to pre-
serve both their sobriety and their much
vaunted personal independence. While they
drink only when they please, they entertain
no fears of passing the bounds of respectable
sobriety; but unfortunately the experience
of everybody, proves the alarming fact, that
such are the conditions of the human organ
ization and such the nature of stimulating
beverages, that the slightest indulgence in
the latter is sure to arouse in the former a
desire for repetition of the dose not only
in frequency but in increasing quantities.
This being truism, the man who drinks
only when he pleases, must find it very diff
cult to determine after time when he real.
ly does please to drink. If he should hap
pen to take drink some time when he did
not please to do so, that would be a sacrifice
of his personal independence, quality that
he is as desirous to maintain as the privilege
of taking this grog when he pleases.
When and how often ought man to take
his dram so that he will be safe, and hold in
possession the two qualities indicated above
This is question easier asked than answer
ed. If it were not for the cumulative prop
critics of such drinks, a man might drink a
little every day of his life and perhaps live to
green old age without ever being drunk,
but it is past the endurance of too many,
alas! to feel perfectly satisfied to-day with
what was an abundance twelve month ago.
Hence, they find, upon a little reflection,
that somehow they please to drink oftener
than they once did, and in constantly in
creasing quantities; and they still assume
that they occupy tenable ground of safety
because they drink only when they please.
This is dangerous ground to occupy man
may drink for time only when he pleases,
but if he persists in this course the probabil-
tiles are that he will soon or late find that
an unconquerable desire is raging within
him for that which he knows is rapidly wor-
king his ruin, and that he pleases to drink
now whenever he can get it. This he finds
is consuming him like raging fire, and yet
he is powerless-he cannot resist the temp
tation and he goes on headlong to speedy
and certain destruction. This drinking
when one pleases is dangerous position,
some of the strongest have fallen from it to
the utter degradation of the hopeless drunk
ard, and thousands more will follow.-Spir-
IL of the Aqe.