The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-02-03
Avoid Wine.

There is one obvious and overshadowing
influence which does mere than all other in
Huences combined to seduce tha young from
sobrlety to drunkenness. We refer to the
conventional and absurd custom of making
the swallowing of some intoxicating drink
one Of the rites Of hospitality, and one of the
s.ereotyped courtesies Of social life So per-
vading, SO resistless, so effective, so fruitful!
Of evil, SO remorscless is this social custom in
our own lana, that it deserves to TO be known
as the Fountain Of Drunkenness Its fatal
power for evil lies IN the fact that it meets
every boy and every man in his weakc est hour,
and tempts him to take his first and second
drink-and, that done, thirst is kindled
within which renders outside social pleasure
no longer necessary, and the tempted one is
| added to the army Of drinkers end of temp
ters From high to low, through all classes
and all conditions, the moment man has
himself become an occasional or moderate
drinker, that moment he feels bound by his
enslaylng custom to say to every friend he
meets or entertains beneath his roof and to
every stranger to whom he is introduced
Come and take something ?''a This is not
always the form of the invitation, but the
meaning and the result are the, same. And
in most instances these solicitations to drink
are given in a manner and under crcumstan
ces which render a-refusal difficult and embar-
RAISING. Indeed, any man who has had &C.
casion to do both things, will testify that it
often requires more moral courage. to decline
a glass Of wine than face battery Of artillery
"A code Of honor prevails in many drink
ing circles which regards a refusal to drink
as personal affront to the one offering the
" courtesy" Probably the most horrible and
damaging charge that could be made against
a society man ip fashionable quarters, would
be, /" lie refused wine from a lady "-Ea.
change. g a 9
| TALLEYRAND's DEATH BED.--For nearly
half a century this veteran diplomatist acted
a prominent part In the affairs of Europe As
the prinashninister or ambassador Of the Di-
reetory, the consulate, the empire and the
| monarchy of Louis Philippe, he negotiated
| the important treaties which terminated the
boundaries and the fate of Kingdoms, and
formed plans which made Napoleon
an emperor, and the emperoran exile. Such
a mans view Of an eventful life Of four score
years furnishes instructive lessons to men who
are wasting the energies of being on political
ambition or worldly aggrandzement. Just
before his death a paper was found CD his Ia
| BILE on which he had written by the light of 6
| lamp, such lines as these:
behold eighty-three years have passed
away. What cares! What agitation What
anxiety! What ill will What sad compiled.
tions! And all without results, except great
fatigue of mind and body, and profound
sentiment of Encouragement with regard te
the future, and disgust to the past z
Contrast this with the exclamation Of ''P au
the aged," as he was about closing his earth
y career:"I have fought the good fight;
have kept the faith; henceforth there il
aid up for me a crown of rightet usness, which
the Lord the righteous Judge shall give M
at that day" A death bed is the triumphan
| chariot of the useful Christian, however hum
BILE it is executioner's cart Of the world,
unbeliegeE, however exalted.