Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-05-05
Communications.
Written For the Charles City rnteliigencer.
Drinking Habits Of Literary 1en.
BY JANE low SpEs


Much as has been said and written
on the subject of intemperance, we
know but little of it's real power and
extent. We do not realize how COM
pletely all classes of men are under
its influence that it holds in its pow
erful grasp the high and the low, the
learned and the unlearned controls
the strongest as well as the weakest
minds, and ruins the best as well as
the meanest men. 49,. l.s..,.
Strange as it may seem to us that
men, whom we have been accustomed
to look upon as guides and lights in
the literary world, should thus de-
grade themselves by STOPPING to the
winecup, it is, nevertheless, true.
One of the most admired of writer's,
Sir Walter Scott, was, in his earlier
years, addicted to dissipation, and in
frequent letters Of warning to his son,
who was then a young officer in Dub
lin, he attributes many of his hours OF
suffering and pain, to the drunken hab.
its of his youth. He frequently re-
marked to those whom he thought
were exposed to similar temptations,
that, "of all vices, drinking was the
most incompatible with true great
ness" s-a aa.# 3-ass .s ..8sgga 3
The good and great Charles Lamb
was often betrayed into the ex-
cessive use of stimulating drinks, for
which he never failed to suffer the
keenest remorse. He was, as a con-
sequence of his intemperance, obliged
to relinquish the companionship Of
his most cherished friends, Southey,
Coleridge and Wordsworth and it
was only after a long seclusion from
society that he finally conquered him.
self. .g-.s #tsa/ s... ...rsasl tt.a
One of the greatest Greek scholars
in the world, Professor Person, was a
confirmed drunkard and the Rev. Mr.
Maurice, assistant librarian of the
British Museum, a man of varied and
extensive learning, was frequently in
sensible from inebriation. .& ~. n4at
Henry Fielding, one of the first of Eng.
lish noyelists, was, in his early life, a
drunkard /; and we may give the same
name to Savage, the poet, and Steele,
the great and fluent writer. 1t has
been remarked of Fielding, Savage
and Steele, that they were loose fel
lows about town, who slept in ale-hous
es and wrote in bar-Tooms, who took
up the pen as a magician's wand te
supply their wants, and when the pres
sure of necessity was relieved, resort
cd again to their carousals." ar ts.
Lord Byron, though he has won fol
himself an immortal name, is not free
from the stain Of intemperance. 1t il
said that upon one occasion, wishing
to express his admiration for Sir Wal
ter Scott, he said that Scott was the
only man with whom he would like t
get drunk J hsfis37 abiaaH
sHOf Goldsmith it has been said, that
"his youth was passed between squal
| id distress and squalid dissipation
Sheridan, the most eloquent of orators
through his drunken habits, ended hi
life in poverty and sorrow and Shiel
| a member of the House of Commons
resembling Sheridan in the powers o
his mind, drank deeply. Campbell, t,
whom we owe some of the finest poem;
in the English language, in his late
years was rarely sober Edgar A. Po'
is notorious example Of dissipation
He had talents which might have woi
him lasting name among the grea
literary men Of his country, but alas
the winecup was his ruin Admire'
but disrespected, pitied but shunnc'
F. ~ eHa asa