The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-10
Warning Well Needed.

tVclA fteeucus
Most readers are familiar with the
naSae. !and very many with she Writings,
OF the celebrated geologist. the .'Cro.
marty stone-mason," Hugh Miller. His
books are read wherever the Englieh
language is spoken; and yet his edlca.
tional advantages were far inferior to
those OF the poorest boy in Philadelphia.
What to ordinary lads is disadvantage
Yves to him e benefit. He selected the
trade of q stone-mason, because he
observed that men in that occupation.
though hard-worked during several
months in year, are forced to intermit
their labor in the winter season. The
months which, to q lad without purpose.
would be months of peril, were to him q
Season of intellectual labor. By i'm
provement of oil his leisure in study, he
acquired the knowledge which made his
life useful and his name famous. IF all
apprentices, and all men, indeed, who
are compelled to desist from their trades
during certain seasons, thus utilized their
Oil weeks or months, we should not meet
80 many idle boys, dissipated and i'm
p.rovldent men: Often do people blame
circumstances for their failure; when, in
truth. the very circumstances which they
presentas excuses for their idleness might
be made the means of their improve
ment.
While the ''Cromarty mason" was vet
young, he made another resolve and nd
hered to 1t, one in which everybody
might follow him. Being prest mt ut the
laying Of foundation stone ono day, he
participated in the festivities with which
the occasion was marked. He was not
intemperate in his indulgence, and went
home sober. He undertook to finish out
the day with his books, but 'the letters
danced before his eyes," and study or
even concentration of thought was not
possible. Yet he had drank but one
glass OF whiskey. He eresolved that such
cause should never again defraud him
OF his time, and he adhered to his reso-
luton. Hugh Millers experience with
the ono hrst glass is the experience OF
most young men. 1t confuses and inca
pncitates them for clear thinking, and for
application. The system must become
accustomed to the foreign stimulus, be.
fore strong drink con be taken and the
mind not be dimmed. Habit tlendens
the sense, but by the time that the habit
IS formed it is discovered that the
pleasant" effect is not reached by O, g
gloss. More must be taken, and at last
1t requires many to put the drinker in
working condition. For the glass which
at first confused becomes at last, in the
estimation of tho drinker, necessary to
enable him to think or to act. An appe-
tlte is formed which is unappeasable, and
the unfortunate victim of lis own ire
solution is put in condition of BODY
and mind from which it is hard task,
involving terrible ordeal, to restore
himself. Still, he can do it, if he qciH.
And he must do it, or forfeit his best
hopes Of health, wealth and advance
ment.
Those, then, to whom the use of cx-
cltlng beverages has not yet become
habit should resolve that the habit never
shall be formed. At the time when Hugh
Miller turned short off from the indul.
gence, it was less easy to decline such
indulgence than it is now. Drinking
whiskey in his country, and with his
working companions, was the rule, and
abstinence was the exception. Then q
young man was put to some trouble to
find an excuse for not complying with n
bad custom. Now it is quite as easy to
avoid drinking habits rs to fall into
them. There are thousands who "touch
not, taste not, handle not" and they are
the provident and successful. It is not
pretended that there are no persons OK.
cept those who abstain entirely who sue.
ceed. No good cause is served by reck-
less assertion. But as everybody is not
master OF his appetite in the desire for
intoxicating beverages, the young man
is safest who let's an uncalled for expert
ment alone, and who is satisfied to know
that he can safely abstain, whether he
could safely indulge or not. He who
can "drink in moderation" is no better
oil in any respect than he who avoids
inebriating drinks, while the latter has |
the advantage in the avoidance of a
source OF great and useless expense
And he has, moreover, the comfortable
feeling of security for himself, and the
confidence of his friends in his future.
No rnan who knows the world can look
without some feeling of distrust and np.
prehension at the youth who is already
able to carry OF" strong potutions.
The better he can apparently endure
them, the stronger is the evidence that
the chains are already fastened, which
can only be broken with infinite diff
Guilty, if at ALL
Philadelphia Public Letlqer.