The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-26

gTUNs more Te~Oiut III uhtDuLaau4A All
Use oi alcoholic drinks The chronicles
Of rarly times in thtLeountry tells US that
in those days the bottle was the universal
symbol Of hospitality. Not only was it
present at all festive occasions, but /, was
found on every board aud no hozpi.
mlity, whether in palace or cabin was
considered complete aud hearty without
II. It is common, especially among tenn
perancc lecturers, to represent intcmpcr'
ancc In liquors as q constantly growing
evil. Their consumption in this country
is, Of course many times greater than II
was halt century ago, partly because
the population Of the country has
enormously increased and somewhat
it may be because those who drink now
drink TO greater excess. But in one respect
there is certainly an improvement The
use Of liquors, then almost universal, has
been discarded by a large part OF the com.
munily. What was then common and
reputable has become exceptional and
disrcputAblc Two causes are rapidly at
work 10 decrease the consumption OF al
coholic beverages still further. One Is the
steady dilfl,ton OF general intelligence
and especially Of physiological knowl'
edge People who are not hopelessIy
bound by their appctites will not drink
when they understand just how and how
much il Injuries them. The other cause
which operates in the same direction,
Il the vile adulicrAlion OF all al.
coholic drinks This has been found
immensely profitable, and is practccd
to such nm extent that scarcely any pure
liquors are sold anywhere. 1t is bad
enough when the alcoholic poison itself is
pure, but when mixed with other deadly
potions, ms It Is, TO give the required
strength 10 the large infusion Of weaker
liquids, it becomes little lcss than murder
to sell and scarcely less than suicide 10
drink As few people not bcreit Of sanity
care to commit suicide, it happens that
this very adultcra,ion OF liquors, this
poisoning Of poison, coNstrdins many
bibulous man to reform it altogether" In
this way, and by making short work OF
those who persist, it Scnsibly diminishes
the number of drunkards md promotes
temperance,
Wchayc wandered somewhat from tho
simple design with which we set out We
meant only to refer to the one place where
the old time fashion Of alcoholic hospital
ity maintains itself, and that is in the
holiday receptions. 1t is still the almost
custom at Christmas and New
y ear receptions, for the ladies 10 furnish
their side boards with wine, Cgg.nog and
sometimes stronger beverages. This docs
much Ia keep up in society tolcration,
not to say encouragement, of drinking
habits in ysung men. Many u one, no
doubt, can date his ruin from n round of
Christmas calls and incbriAtion. Many
are horn with diseased appetite for
LIQUORS aud their lives are u constant
struggle to rests; il, Whoever places the
before such one, will not find
it easy to clear his or her conscience OF re-
sponsbiIiIy,
The press and pulpit throughout the
country arc appealing to fashionable socic-
ty to leave the wine cup out OF their hoii
day receptions. With all our heart We
Join in the appeal; and we are gratiticd
in the belief tImt it has taken so deep
hold on the public that there will he less
wine on fashionable Sidc,boards to-day
than at any previous Christmas, Tie
example has been set in the highest cir.
clcs, at the center OF fashion; aud those
who follow it need have no fear Of being
questionable. In New York to-day, in
the elegant homes callers will find moth
ing stronger than coffee, tea or chocolate,
In Washington, the Cabinet, General of
the army, and other high officials, will FOL
low the example Of Speaker CoLFAX and
receive without setting out liquors.
In every way and at all times the use ol
liquors in the household is bnd-bad for
old and bad for young-bad for those
whose appetites arc formed and bad for
the children whose 0ppctitcs are yet un.
corrupted. At fashionable reception
the evil is m,cnSidcd-lor the old whose
appetitcs seek qualification, for the young
men who are tempted, and for the child
ren who see bad example which they
are prone to follow.
Fair readers, who receive your friends
to-day, We beg you give heed to the
PRAYER that may well be on thoir lips {:
Lead us not into Utcmptation." Entertain
them with the cups that cheer but not
incbriatc, but let them not through your
induccmcnt look upon the wine when it
is red, when 1t giveth its color in the
cup, for whosoevcr is deceived thereby
is not wise and whose tcmpts friend to
such folly will not be held guiltless
Another "Ring''..-SPeculHtion in
the AIRbRmR Claims.