Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-21


For the Spirit of the Age.
Dialogue between the Devil, a Moderate
Drinker. a Drunk~I Son of ITEM
perance.
De0il.-Good morning, Mr.. Moderate
how do you feel this morning?
Moderote.-Ifeel like a horn would clear
away the cob-webs out of my throat, and
then [ would feel pretty sharp.
Drunkard.-WeIl, neighbor Moderate,
| am surprised that a man like you, would
deny yourself one of the good creatures"
when you are not only able to have it, but
can govern yourself so we'll as you have
generally done. You are afraid I suppose
these cursed Sons will give you scissors
If you drink liquor us a beverage.
Noderdte.-I don't know that you have
assigned the true reason why | do not keep
the article by me. I am almost convinced
that it is rather a habit, and that if | could
get the better of that, | might do better
without it.
DeviL.-I see, Mr.. Moderate, you are
rather giving in to the new tangled notions
of these Sons. If | was in your place, |
would be very clear of denying myself
whatever would make me feel good. What
do you live for, but to enjoy yourself. Sol
ONION says, /" eat, drink, and be merry, for
tomorrow you die"
Son.-Having listened to your CONVEX
sation for some time, [ think l may be al
lowed to speak, especially as the subject
under discussions one Of great importance.
Now believe with Mr.. Moderate, that
drinking ardent spirits is more a habitthan
a benefit; and that if he could c get
rid of the habit, he would be better with
out it. Besides, if the habit of drinking is
INDUCED in, he may become a drunkard.
Dr~nkord.-Well, suppose he should {;
would that be any body's business but his
own? He certainly has a right to do what
he pleases with his own; and these Sons
have no right to meddle themselves with
other mems matters. The world has been
going on for nearly 6AO0 Years. and got
tangled notion, that people were drinking
too much liquor.
De0iL-Give it to him, my good fellow.
He deserves to be severely lectured, for
%presuming to dictate to his neighbors how
they ought to act. This is a free country,
and that man is a fool who will sign away
a privilege which we all hold dear, of do
ing just as we please with our own.
Moderate.-l think, gentlemen, you are
all a little wrong concerning this thing
The devil would have every body do just
as they please. Well, this would be a lib
erty no man has a right to; for if they had
seeing we are selfish, depraved creatures
We would often do violence to our neigh.
, Dor. Mr.. Drunkard carries matters to ex-
. tremes when he drinks to excess and Mr.
Temperance errs, when he would restrain
us entirely from using one of the "goo(
creatures of God" l believe I am nighe
right than any of you. | just take enough
= to make me feel good, and then stop. Nov
y if every body would do so, there would b
no need for Temperance reforms.
DeUl.-I must confess, Mr.. Moderat
seems to have reason on his side but still
| firmly believe in every body doing jus
# what they please.
- Drunkard.-Pn be cursed if l hardl
. know what to think. There seems to be
Il difficulty any way you take this thing.
W know there is a great evil in drinking to
N much-there is, as appears to me, an ev
" in drinking none, an evil also in drinkin
: moderately. If a man drinks at all, an
n don't drink until he is satisfied, he fee
worse than if he had drank none at all.
Son.-Well, gentlemen, | have made l
49, my mind fully on this subject, and Wi
nd your leave l will assign some of the re
sons why | have resolved not to drink al
A. more Intoxicating liquors as a beverage ::
Of my first reason is, that it is unnecessary
,at health; my next reas5A is, that l mig
90 become too fond of it, and become a drum
Is ard my next reason is, that l am not
N. lowed to throw a stumbling block in
10 neighbours way which I will do, if l
dulge in the use of it at all.
Moderate.-People may say what th
will, both pro and con, about this thing
,on drinking liquor; | know from exporter
just how it is: when a man gets in the v
of taking his dram regularly, he looks
in it, and naturally Graves it as he would
an dinner, or his tobacco; and when he Q
T. out of it, he feels just like the toba
,oar chewer does when he is out of tobacco
Now the question arises whether, upon
arts whole, he would not be better withou
also altogether. l cannot say that it cont
res1 utes to my health, or to my property, Q
VT my happiness in any way, and | am aw
nm, there is danger of becoming too fond o
rom And then again, supposed could use it S
sci- ly all my life, with what grace could [
low- my sons it was a dangerous practice
hem long as l set them an example of drinL
the it myself?
~ Son.-Mr. Moderate is ~beginningto
the only correct view of this matter, a
hope he will o see his way clear tx
49, solve to drink 10 more; and then, as
7.'' ted effort is more e~ffectual than singh
save fort, l hope he will come over and |
-, with the Sons, and then a flood of
s sun will be poured into his mind from tin
1n time, and confirm him in the convi,
sney that any use of ardent spirits, only