The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-16
Temnerance in ITO.

Temperance i'm fS1O.
TIf wines were poison century and half
ago, when such a thing as adulteration was
unknown, for heavens sake, what must they
be now, when the most refined tipler or the
most illitera:e drunkard ought to know that
every draught he swallows is a compound of
positive poisons? STEELE, one Of England'S
greatest and most erudite esSayists, thus bears
test to the quality and effect of the wines of
the forepart of the eighteenth century. We
find the ar ce in No. 24l of The Taller, bear
ing date Oct. "a, l7l0.-ED. jour.
On DRINKIEG.-A method Of spend
ing ones time agreeably is thing so lit
tie studied, that the common amusement
of our young gentlemen, especially Of
such as are at a distance from those Of
the first breeding, is Drinking. This
way of entertainment has custom on its
side but as much as it has prevailed, |
believe there have been very few conpa-
nies that have been guilty of excess this
way, were there have not happened more
accidents which make against, than for
the continuance of it. 1t is very COM
mon that events arise from a debauch
which are fatal, and always such as are
disagreeable. With all mans reason
and good sense about him, his tongue is
apt to utter things out of mere gayety of
heart, which may displease his best
friends Who, then. would trust himself
to the power of wine, without saying
more against it, than that it raises the
imagination, and depresses the Judgment ?
Were there only this single consideration,
that we are less masters ct ourselves,
when we drink iu the least proportion
above the exigencies of thirst; | say,
were this all that could be objected, it
were sufficient to make us abhor this
vice. But we may go on to say, that as
he who drinks but little Is not master
Of himself, so he who drinks much is a
slave to himself. As for my part, | ever
esteemed dfunkard of all vicious per-
sons the most vicious for, if our actions
are to be weighed and considered accord
ing to the intention of them, what can
We think of him, who puts himself into
a circumstance wherein he can have no
intention at ALL but incapacitates himself
for the duties and Offices of life, by a sus
pension of all his faculties? If man
considered that he cannot, under the op-
pres1io of drink, be friend, gentle
man, master, or a subject; that he has
so long banished himself from all that is
dear and given up all that is sacred TO
him. he would even. then think of de-
bauch with horror Bat when he looks
still further, and acknowledges, that he
relations of life, but also liable to Of
fend against them all what words
is not only expelled cut of all the
can express the terror and detestation he
would have of such a condition And
yet ne owns all this o. himself, who says
he was drunk last night.
AS l have all along persisted In it, that
all the vicious in general are in state OF
death so think | may add to the non
existence of drunkards, that they died by
their own hands. He is certainly as
guilty of suicide who perishes By slow,
as he that is dispatched by an immediate
poison In my last Lucubration | pro-
posed the general use of water-grpel, and
limited that it might not be amlss at this
very season. But as there are some
whose cases, in regard to their families,
will not admit of delay, have used my
interest in several wards of the city, that
the wholesome restorative above-mention
ed may be given in tavern-kitchens to all
the morning -draughts-men within the
walls, when they call for wine before
noon. For further restraint and mark
upon such persons, have given orders,
that in all the offices where policies are
drawn upon lives, it shall be added to
the article which prohibits that the nom
inee should cross the sea, the words
; Provided also, that the aforementioned
A. B. shall not drink before dinner dur
ing the term mentioned in this indcnture.
| am not without hopes, that by this
method shall bring some unstable
friends of mine into shape and breadth,
as well as others, who aye languid and
consumptive, into health and vigour.-
Most If the self-murderers whom [ yet
limited at, are such as preserve a certain
regularity in taking their poison, and
make it mix pretty well with their food.
But the most conspicuous of those who
destroy themselves. are such as in their
youth fall into this sort of debauchery
and contract certain uneasiness Of spirit,
which is not to be diverted but by tip
pliug as often as they can fall into COM
pany in the day, and conclude with down
right drunkenness at night. These gen
tlemen never know the satisfaction Of
youth, bat skip the years of manhood,