Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-18
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The. Power Of" Alcohol over a well
Educated Lind.

1t is painful, IN any country and among Q
any people, to lose those who might by pre-
cept and example teach the young to love :.
their. country and obey the laws of God
Yet such instances have taken place in every
country, and all are familiar with such cir
cumstances as are shown in this sketco, OF
the blasted hopes and short life of one who
might have been a leader in the ranks of his
country's able supporters.
Near the village OFFS, N j. of W. county,
Va, was born, near the year 1920. the sub
ject of this communication. He was of very
respectable parentage, who were Of quite a
sufficient fortune to give him a liberal educa-
ton. While young he attended the schools
at S., which were of a high grade for an in
land village, and there he often entertained
his fellow students and the polite intelligent
citizens, with compositions of his superior
youthful mind. A few years latter we find
MIN within the walls,ofthe University Ct Va,
where his amiable qualities madedrm friends
by the score for him, and with a speed
scarcely equalleo, he was making rapid strides
towards the topmost pinnacle of the temple
of fame. But alas in an evil hour, he left
the path of temperance ard ere long we find
him going with mailman speed down to the
drunkard'S grave. While at the University
he was attacked with dyspepsia. He applied
10 a physician for something 10 cure the dis
ease. French Brandy" was recommended
as being the best remedy in the knowledge
Of the best man,and therefore was used freely
by him. Soon from it's use as a " medicine
ne got to using'it as a beverage, and such
was his course, after a few months, that be
was advised to return home to avoid expul-
sion.
After his return among bis friends, for a
time he seemed to avoid the use and temp
tation of this his worst enemy. He engaged
in the mercantile business and his friends
began to hope that his reformation was COM
plete but like the current Of a deep river,
his course was silent yet downward. With
sure and steady aim, after a brief career in
this new business, he resolved to leave his
native town but his early associations al
clustered here-here were the graves Of bis
beloved and honored parents; here were the
places where in his boyhood- days he anus
ed himself in boyish sports. Thoughts like
these came rushing to his mind and forbade
his leaving his native place. Again he en-
gagged in business near the village, but sad tt
tel, this time he engaged in the degrading
business of retailing "Spoison" to his fellow
men Eroa~ snis 4 ~lrsevarsU - do,vn-
ward, and the rapid progress which he mad,
in this direction, in less than two short years
brought him to beggary as to fortune, an
caused him to fill a drunkard's grave sal
wreck of what he was, and but a speck Q
what he might have been!
Young men. beware" touch not, tast
not, handle not" is the only motto, and sure
ly he whose aspirations impel him to a use
ful career can avoid using that which vii
bring him to a level with the brute creation.
our various places Of learning could kno,
the history of this young man, and that the
wopldtake timely warning, and blight in tn
bud a practice which, if followed, will surel
bring them to a premature grave and caus
them to lose their immortal souls. W.
Warsaw, N. c..