Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-05-15
For the Chronicle.
to the LadIes.-Their
Social influence.

The theme we are about to in
troduce is a very delicate one, and if
encroached on too far, dangerous
The ladies. As they are brought to
so much suffering on account of intem-
peTance, they should realize the part
they have in bringing on this terrible
curse. Ladies, you complain, because
there are no true young men now: if
so, whose fault is it? What will not
youth do for your smiles, and on
whom have they rested in time past,
on those full of virtue, or full of show !?
A young man of real sterling worth, has
been for long time, passed by you in
disdain, and called presy, disagreeable,
not gay, &C., while temperate drinker
even, if he wears shining boots, drives
fast rig, and have oily, smooth words,
you have favored with your smiles,
your company and your hand. Do
you wonder, then, that you fill
drunkard's homes. You say don't
grant license, to sell liquor by law,
when it is in your power to do far more
BY the La,0 of your affections. You say,
God speed the work in. which you are
engaged, when by your influence you
can accomplish far greater results for
good. You complain, that your homes
are made desolate, that you are abused,
that your children are ruined, that
your lives are crushed. All yes, this
and more; you are TO be pitied, but
think, did you discourage even an oc-
casional glass, in your lover or did your
delicate lips consecrate the wine to his
use. Young ladies, if you would speed
this work of reform, you must make
sterling worth the price of your smiles,
you must allow no tippler the pleasure
of your society. When this is done,
young men will forget the cup, and
your gay youths will be none the less
gay, but free from vices. In your hands
rests the work, for you must see when
you smile on those who drink, and
frown on those who do not, you are
sowing the seed ofyour own ruin, and
the ruin of those around you. Let the
reform rest at home. Wives, you COM
plain that during the long winter even
ings, your husband is away from home.
away from yaur society, and that at a
late hour he brings back the fumes of
liquor on his breath. Think, have you
made home cheerful by order, neatness,
and kind words, in short by all the lit
tie attentions, that from a kind hand
makes home a Paradise? Have you
made peaceful and safe mans should
be haven ofrest, or have you made it the
strongest part of the sea, where pillows
of scold rise and fall to make all things
unsafe. Before you blame him with all
his own ruin think of these things.-
You say Iwish my sons were like my
at home and away from vice,
perhaps if you were like your neighbors
they might be, it may be they have
pleasant reading to entice them there, |
and around their homes are thousand |
and one little grsces that go to make it |
that no place is IKE home, and think, |
have you always taught them to loathe
even the name of drunkard, and in
stilled into their hearts love of virtue,
and hatred OF vice. Woman you can |
be the greatest power in helping on
this great work, or you can be the
greatest force against it; like many of
she forces Of nature, rightly directed,
1r properly kept within bounds, they |
become great moving power for good
but wrongly aimed, or applied. scatter
death, destruction, and ruin all around.
Take your choice, would you have a
husband, a brother, or son by your
Iide, in cheerful, pleasant and happy
nome, labor for it, and you can have it;
,r if you would for the qualification of
Tour own desire, drive them both to
'uin, blow them out, blow them out
,Teate breeze. and you will gain your
End, but do not complain if you fill a
lrunkard's home, and the bright flow
srs of youth are changed to the clay sur
poverties hut. A noble, true,
Tirtuous woman is a jewel of great
price, but naughty, fidgety, scolding
thing, should, above all
,hings be summed. Now we would not
leap all the blame on you, but do you
lot see you are responsible for some of
he evil, and where you may check the
erpent that is striving to take the life
,ut of your community be yourselves
loble, virtuous, true, and compel man
o come to your standard, and all viii
,e well.
In this work of reform, let each re-
member. his sphere of action; the
ather, IN the day toiling for the sup
,ort of his family, and in the evening
t home instilling into his children's
learts, virtue, and minds, knowledge,
companion for his wife, and true
Iead of his home. The young man,
lways active, never feeling that he
las time to spend in the bar-room, and
7hen he seeks pleasure let it be of a
ure and ennobling kind. heyoung
ady, saying her say, aad doing her do,
rowning down evil, and encouraging
obleness of character. The mother,
nth a mothers love patiently extol- I
ng every sign of moral excellence in
er offspring, and reproving every ap-
roach tn impurity. III