Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-10
YThe Beginning ana

g., osk what harm there
Lohng men oi,' moderats glass of wine
cm be in a socls, claiB a very agreeable
iiis certainly, tnIy rebour Undoubtedly
vas ofpasSlng nh;I~sratan of wine and jovial
they find the agrerble and it is upon
Intercourse ve,y ct ffbt the counsel Of my
this admIteud sg3ok not thou upon the
text IS Daitt giv6h its color in the cup-at
wine wnsn b;te5 like a serpent, and stingeM
ike an &a - a<S'rst-did it bite at the first,
Not A. JJAmper with it /? Did the sting
VINO VII beginning of the indulgence,
come OK be led astray? But the pleas
VINO VS. atthe first, and the sting at the
uls0 a herein lies the danger of looking
IaST;e wine. At the first it sparkles and
yrs ; at the last it poisons and maddens.
the first IT excites mirth and song at
lie last it produces sorrow and curses. At
the first it is an affair of good feeling and
fellowship at the last it is an affair of feuds,
fighting, and murder. At first it may kin
die up the countenance to a more animated
expression ; at the last it gives redness of
eyes, and bloat and deformity to the visage.
AT first it may quicken the intellect to un-
wonted activity, and impart a captivating
brilliancy to the conversation at the last
it emasculates the mind of every element Of
strength, and degrades the conversation to
the merest stammering of idiotic gibberish.
At first it may stimulate the body to an
unnatural vigor at the last it breaks down
the strongest frame, and sends weakness into
the limbs and trembling into the flesh. AT
FIRST there may be health enough to resist
the perniciouS tendency of intoxication, SO
that with all the pleasures, there are few Of
l u. -, &c :-ll-N--. - %h0 1oct III nv
become victims of manifold, inveterate, loath'
some, and Distressing diseases. In the be
ginning they count themselves of all mer
most happy in the end, they confess them
selves of all men most miserable. In tn,
beginning, We have a company of fine yount
gentlemen in the end we have a group c
dilapidated and vulgar old sets. Atthe CON
mencement of their career they have FIRE
access 10 respectable society at its close, FEY
are willing to be seen in their company. A
first they have no small pride Of character
the last all regard for reputation IS over
whelmed IN the lust for drink. The earl
stages of their dissipation were cheered |
temporal prosperity, and the hope OF st
brighter days to come; its later periods a
darkened by a cloud which sheds only gloo
on the present, and foreshadows a still mo
dismal future. At first they are sustained
a fine flow of spirits at the last they sl
in the slough of dependency, and perha
Of mental horror. At first it is a cup
exhilaration in the hands of thoughtl'
youth at last it is a 'cup of fearful trei
bling III the hand of an offended God"
the first there is a joyful anticipation of go
times to come at the last there is "a fear
looking for ofjudgment and offery indig1
toin which shall devour the adyersarie
At first it is the wine of pleasant FELLOWSHIP
at the last it is the " wine of the wrath
Almighty God, poured out without mixtnr
At the first it is the agreeable excitement
an evening at the last it is the long dra
agony Of an endless perd;tion. At the t
tits The grateful stimulus of an hour at
last it is " the worm that never dies, and
fire that never shall be quenehed."
Reu. DR. E. L. Cledrel0