Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-03-13
a}li stellaMe II s.
Temperance.
NO. 3.

There are many who gave promise ol
bright future, and great usefulness in the
intellectual world who entered upon the
activities of life full of cope, but have no"
become mere intellectual wreck, even be
fore two score years of their earthly cxls-
,ance have rolled into eternity.
One of the saddest sights that the eye
can behold, is 'the mighty fditea! We
cannot contemplate all intellect, naturally
vigorous and brilliant. enlightened and
polished by education, but ruined by strong
drink. without becoming deeply impressed
with the truth of mans dcpravity.
We can only think of intemperanee' in
conncxion with its corrup:ing influence up
on the heart of man, and the many other
evils which it has produced, and is still
! produ. ing.
When all the emotions, affections Of the
soul are dchascd by strong drnks-whrn
the heart becomes as "a cage OF unclcan
birds, y and the desires and aspirations of
the soul, which should 90 out after God
and Heaven, are turned cut of cirprop
cr channcl, and flow OIL toward uuforEld-
den objects, it is not an easy thing III after
/ liic. so to discipline the heart, as that il
Will rise to the sublime emnence. where
there will be freedom from corrupt assocl-
atoms, and a complete separation from ali
oljccts Of pursuit of a potlutjng charac-
/ ter.
Should the heart attempt to stretch
forth its affections toward God. the true
object of worship, it fails of success. as the
bird fails 10 rise with its wings clipped and
aud Instead of reaching position where
there is purity and joy, it settles back to
earth, only ,ceakeaed by its repeated ef-
forts to raise. There are many who have
been lied captive :" hy strong drink for so
many years, and whose atte;npts at reform
have proved failures, that they have given
up III despair. For an illustration OF this
truth.-o to the Senate of the United States
whclc are SALISBURY aud YATES, whose
"sun has gone down at noon. - Let Young
men be uarned by such sad examples, and
resolve that they will neither touch, taste
nor handle the accursed drink.
There is nothing that makes a man so
soon forget his true dignity as man, and
the Supreme Being in "whose image he
was created, "as strong diink:-more than
this, he loses all relish for everything that
is good he loses all love for, or desire tor
association with those who are promoting
good in the world.
Man, reconstructed by the rum-bot-
tie, is constructed. to his injury, and
his last state is worse than the first In
every purpose and feeling of his heart he
becomes more, and still more debased, and
though surrounded by good inAu 'nces'
those influences become almos. powerless
for good. 1t is rare thing. that man
dashes the intoxicating bowl from his lips,
and lives temperate life after having
passed his two score years. A habit So
completely fixed is rarely abandoned.
Intoxicating dnnk-called in these mod
ern days. chain lightning. is sort o.
liquid devil, that fits man for the perform
ancc of olmost any act known to the list
of crimes.
An eccentric writer once remarked, tha
when q man was so mean that Lis dog
left him on account of poor board, that he
could not get any lower down in this worli
not by land But man thus mean, il
not so low, not so contemptable, as whel
he deliberately dec ides to be a drunkard
and seek his associates--not among til,
yrtuous. and intelligent.-but among those
who roll in the ditch and slumber in the
hOvel.
MUNSoN.