Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-25
l..'ha BEGINNING and the End.

,-s4tC 2C5 AAhA3A5 cSnu 641O --@1>@
Ee,hS men often ask, what harn there
CT bg n social, moderate glass Of wine
itb eli ssinly, they claim, very agreeable
way d passing leisure hour Undoubted
~ thAl find the exhilaration of wine and jo-
vial ID ueourse very agreeable; and it is up
on thl admitted fact that tho council of
my IS BASED, .'Look not thou upon the
wine i,aen Il g:veth its color in the cup-Gt
tie laS Il 6itstb 1slbou serpent, and sting
Ne - -. .::s.. Il bite at fhe first.
VIC Fnld Sc ed astrayP But the pleas
ure et. hes at the first, and the sting at the
last, and herein lies the danger of looking on
the wins. At the first it sparkles aud cheers;
at thb ast it pcisons and maddens. At the
frst it pxcites mirth and song; st the last it
prodacks sorrow and curses. At the first
it is ar affair Of good feeling and fellowship :;
at the Lst it is an affair OF feuds,. fighting
and n2tt tder At the first it may kindle up
the cod dtenance to a more animated express
sion: a the last it gives redness OF eyes, and
boat ali. deforlaity to the visage. At first
it NAV vlquickcn the intellect to unwonted
activitA and impart captivating brilliancy
to tie tnyersation at the last 'enascu-
| lates thI mind of every element of strength,
and dafades the conversation to the mereSt
stanming Of idiotic gibberish. At first it
may sslulate the body to an unnatural Wig
or at ie last it breaks down the strongest
frame, Id sends weakness into the limbs
and treIbling into the flesh. 1t FIRST there
may belealth e2oagh to resist the perni-
cious tdlency Of in5oxication, SO that with
all the Easures, there are few Of the pains
of indulnce; at the last they become vic
Tins Of lanifold, inveterate, loathsome, and
J distrassh diseases. In the beginning ths5
count ttnselves Of men most happy; in tbs
| end, thtconfess- themselves Of ell men mcst
J. miseraI In the beginning, we have 9
D companbf fine young gentlemen in tho
!. end we I've group of dilapidated and vul-
q err old Is. At the commencement CT theii
g career IL have free access to respectable
society 1 its close, few are willing to bt
IS seen in Dir company. At first they havs
!. no snalhide of character; at The last al
- rayard reputation is overwhelmed II
= the lusst drink. The early stages Of thei
d;.a;pett were cheered by temporal pros
a nerity, n the hope of still brighter days t.
i corne. natter periods are darkened by {
N cloud IA sheds cnly gloom on tbs pres
of ont snheshadows still more dismal fu-
~ ture Arst they are sustained by 9 fn
~ Aov os hts; at the last they sink IN rh
~ s1ourh 6espondeney, and perhaps of men
10 10 tal f.rrN it first i is cup of exailara
1lf W ton IN hands Of thoughtless youth; q
=, last i &cup of fearful trembling IL tn
ban7 Of Intended Cod" 1t the first ther
;s . ;oyf Anticipation Of good times tc come
bic o+ tbe sShere is "a fearful looking to
i, ns of isdguH and Of fiery indignation whic
"a VI eh,a esH me adversaries." At f1rstit
- -, the wio4tpleasant fellowship; at the las
~ ~ = i tbeNpe of the wrath of Almight
9a1 Go5 "a H. out without mixture" q th
0oa srst i Heeable excitement Of an evening
lay at fae s 'ie ,1o tho Act + Is the orab,
syu - f,l st;m of an hour; at the last it is I'll
~. ,Ioryn r dies, and the fire that ns
bis er saa enct 3D."
tyo willingly when you ha'
! +b;nk nr ( the more of Won