Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-06-05
For the Bellows Falls Times.
Drink not at all!

The power which strong drink holds
over man is almost incredible. 1t seems
strange that an individual who has ever
seen another in state Of intoxication,
could ever afterwards be induced to taste
the fiery fluid which "steals away mans
reason" 1t is sad to think that man
"lord of creation" the greatest and most
exalted of Gods works, himself God
should descend SO low as to give himself
up to an excess so ruinous, so detestable,
so damnable, as that of drunkenness,
that his wonderful and mighty intellect
should be overpowered by an appetite so
gross, so vile, so hateful as that which in
Auences the inebriate. We have all
heard the story of the monkey who, when
he had once made himself drunk, unwit-
tingly, could never afterwards be pre-
vailed upon to touch the exhilerating
but headache producing liquid which
caused his disgrace. He had once expe-
rienced the disgusting effects of intem-
perance and he would not repeat the de-
grading indulgence. No! it takes man
to do that 1t takes man, after emerg-
ing from debasing, sickening debauch,
to again and again plunge voluntarily
into the vortex of drunkenness until he
at last sinks to the condition of the bru-
tai, loathesome sot: Man =
Created half to rise. and half to fall,
Great lord of all things, yet prey to all
Sole judge of truth in endless error hurled.
The olorp. jest and riddle of the world.'
How humiliating the thought! How sug
gestive the fact! The smallest indulgence
in Intoxicating beverages is dangerous;
therefore drink not at ALL
The moderate drinker fatters himself
that he is safe. He feels certain of his
own strength, and he allows the germ of
appetite for drink to unfold within him,
to put forth roots and branches which
grow and spread until the unquenchable
fires of desire burn with torturing intens-
ity through every ramifcation of his
nervous system, and he becomes so weak,
morally and Intellectually, that he is un-
able to control his own actions. Young
men, be warned before it is too late, be-
fore the insidious " "Demon has gained
such an ascendency over you that you
cannot resist his tempting. Do not point
to this or that man and say " He drinks
every day of his life, and yet he is not
a drunkard. No one ever accused him
of intemperance, he is honored and re-
spected by all around him." That is no
excuse for you. He may be able to
drink to the very verge of intoxication,
and there stop, but it does not necessari-
ly follow that you can safely do so, and,
indeed, you do not know but that he may
vet succumb to the influence of an arti-
fetal thirst. His feet rest upon slippery
stones while the bleak angry floods OF
, destruction surge around him. He may
slip, and perchance regain his foothold
) and think himself secure again, but
when he has slipped many times he be
comes exhausted. Each debauch renders
him weaker and weaker until at last ht
falls decisively, sinks to rise no more
) The only safe course is to drink not a
, ALL" Then cast from you the intoxicat
e ing cup; abandon the company of th
s tippler; determine that you will no
4 taste of any alcoholic drinks, and pray
4 to God to give you strength to keep tha
$ determination. "Touch not, taste moi
: handle not DUNNELLE.