Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-05
WARNINGS.

history IS philosophy, teacnlng py e6-
ample" The experiences of the Past are
designed as warnings for the future; as in
s~truetive lessons to guard men against f%ollies.
errors and crimes into which men and ma
tons have been plunged, by pursuing I'm.
wise and vicious pursuits. And there are
none of these which have been more often
repeated and been visited with more terrible
and certain destruction, than that of indul-
gence in intoxicating drinks. From the days
of Noah, who planted q vineyard and was
made drunken from the wine thereof, down
to the present time, almost every page in
nearly every nations history is stained with
the foul crimes and enormities of intemper-
ance; and along, side by side with them,
stand recorded the fearful retribution and
punishment that has inevitably and ~invaria-
bly, followed.
Magnificent cities with their domed CAPT
tolls and splendid palaces great and power
full nations, with their immense navies and
innumerable armies giant intellects, with
powers and capabilities to fathom and eluci-
date the most abstruse and difficult princi-
Piles of nature and of science; the men of
might and irresistible muscular power and
symmetry beauty and refinement and &C.
complishment not excelled by the Queen of
Sheba in her regal glory innocence and
purity, and even the sacred precincts of our
holy Religion-all-all, have crumbled, de-
cayed, been overthrown, degraded and pro-
famed by the envenomed touch Of ~intoxica.
ting drinks
And yet with these well known, fearful
and certain consequences staring them in The
face, men refuse to Be ao4racd they refuse
to learn wisdom from the fate Of millions
who have persisted, but persistently, wanton-
II, madly press on in the wayaof death and
ruin. Who can account for such stupendous
folly-sueh reckless, mad infatuation. Is
there any other like unto it? Men who sus-
tain injuries and disasters from other causes,
are effectually warned and scrupulously guar
ded against becoming Its victims a second
time. But this deadly cirrus seems to possess
the strange power Of causing its victim tc
hug more tightly. to his bosom the envenom'
ed asp that is every moment striking its fata
fangs into his vitais.
We stand aghast at the contemplation o
this fearful picture. We are amazed, awe
stricken. As we see the father turning to th
decantet to bury his sorrows at the loss c
his noble son who learned the way to his owI
destruction, at the very sideboard where tn
father now stands. We are shocked to Sc
the mother dispensing the Christmas egg
nog and the honeyed morning dram to th
little ones aroundher knees, even while weaI
ing the weeds eff mourning that a decease
drunken son had planted there. We tremb
while We see the jeweled hand of beaut
pressing the rnby wilma to her accepted 10
Z ers lips, albeit an elder sister has drank
, lis bitterest dregs the cup of anguish and
; shame which an inebriate husband has ful
= nished as her portion. But yet every day v
meet with these strange anopalies-the
, monstrous incongruities in human experien
:, and human practice. r
And, alas! there is no improvement
: bright prospect looming up, that men al
women are becoming wiser and more discre
concerning this evil. Extrayagsnt as is t
Z price of the fiery, destructive fluid, it
sought after with as much avidity as thou
= it were indeed an elixer, without which |
i would be a burden; and as though it co
e tanned a nutriment Indispensable to heal
IL and happiness. It is now introduced il
l. many homes where a dozen or a score We;
ago it was banished as a vile, hated thing.
Many now use it occasionally, others stat
= ly, and others Unexpectedly, who a few ye
:, since had totally ahjured its use, because
it's ~wel[known destructive, ruinous char
ter. And even the Women Of the Sou
y who should every one be a divinity worst
ping necessarily and most deYotedly at
~ shrine of Total Abstinence-eyen too N.
~ of them have given over to its use, or if
so far gone as this, they look upon the us
hes the Intoxicating beverage with allowance
nd othersl
God help the rising generation and
new Confederacy, If these are to be
40 opening, developing characteristics of its
ny and women What can we hope for,
" the worst of consequences and disaster
IN intemperance Bsaeft 10 run riot and unch
.ch ed smeng usl Il behooyes e7ary good