Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-16
The Terrible Epidemic.

There is an epidemic in the land! A ter
rible, devastating, body and soul destroying
epidemic. 1t is more terrible than the ST
NOON of the desert more devastating than
the whirlwind of the forest-more destroy
ing than the wild FIRE of TIE prairies-more
horrible in it's results than the raYages If
war. Nc position is too high for its insidi-
Gus attacks ; and no station too low to escape
its whitening, blighting and terrible touch.
1t fourishes in the light of the noon-day
sun, and s~catters its poisonous vapors abroad
and broadcast at the midnight hour. 1t is
spreading Throughout. the length and breadth
OF the land, and has become the greastest
curse that ever visited the sons and daughters
Of Adam. 1t knows no distictions. The
high and the low, the rich and the poor,
the bond aud the free, are alike affected by
its poisonous breath. Whatever it touches
becomes Observation-Disclosures it breathes upon
is wrecked and ruined.
Men walk about the streets with this hOr-
rible epidemic preying upon their v~itals.-
They are smitten and they know. it not--they
are unconscious victims deeming themselves
unscathed. They fall daily by the way side,
and others rush past them on the same high.
way to ruin and Death. No ex ample stays
their footsteps no caution can stop them ir
their mad career. They hurry down the roat
that leads to death, arriving to the end there
Of almost before they are conscious Of having
taken the Rrst days journey.
1t lays its finger upon the young man il
the summer of manhood, and his energies ar,
blighted and his God-like powers destroyed
Old age is not exempt from its destroying
touch the grey hairs going down to al
honorable grave become dishonored, and tn
victim reels and falls, disgraced, into tn
darkness of the yawning tomb. Is there n
remedy for this terrible epidemicf Is Their
no balm in Gileads Is there no physical
there Where are our wise men to poiu
out the antidote?
Can it be that this epidemic must go o
and rage and burn forever, increasing i
strength and becoming boiler as it progresse
in its onward career Is there 10 hope f
poor suffering humanity? Is Fashion, tn;
accursed Deity, forever to be worshiped, an
its accused car, more terrible than the C;
of Juggernaut. forever to roll over markin
killing not only the body, but blightin
mildewing and destroying the immortal sou
e. Would you know the name of this cause
Would you listen to its title-its terrible t
tie, which in itself should cause a fear and
horror that should chill ones. blood ar
freeze the marrow in ones bones? This e
/, idemic-this terrible epidemic which is i
creasing. in strength, and which is seen al
, felt throughout this goodly land, and viii,
it does appear as if the power of mortal cou
not stay, is the WHISKEY FEVERi
Shun it as you would a lion in your pat
, Avoid it as you would death itself. Lo,
around you and mark its victims. How n
ny can you number ? is not the reflection al
. the result terrible. 1t RACES like a volcano
E its burning lava is to be feared and shunne
Its victims are numbered by millions, al
E millions are still being smitten daily by ii
+, awful epidemic-the WHlsKEY FEVER.