Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-08-18
A Defence.

The first thing that caught my eye mp
on taking up the CHRONICLE of August 4th,
was an article entitled Glow Women En-
courage Intemperance."
The first sentence was, have no
doubt that the heading of this article will
surprise some of our fair readers" And
| have no doubt that it did surprise others
than fair readers.
| am as we'll aware as is " Hyacinth'
that we ladies treat some men like gentle
men, whereas they should be treated like
dOgs. But supposing we were to "strlke
from the list of our acquaintance" all
men who use alcohol, Tin any shape,) as
q beverage, imagine the consequences
How are we to know who does, and who
does not drink liquors Are we to go up
to every gentleman we meet, and say "Sir,
do you drink ?" and act accordingly? |
meet q well behaved, respectable young
man who, as far as | know, does not drink :
/ become acquainted with him, come to re-
gard him as friend.
In the meantime, have "struck from
the list of my acquaintance one OF the
best, noblest gentlemen ever met, simply
because have heard that he loves wine.
Now meet these two men at the club
mark the difference between them: The
meeting closes knot of two or three go
in one direction, another in another dlrec-
ton; my acknowledged friend goes with
others to some saloon or other, and drinks
q glass of wine, or beer, perhaps more
than one glass, goes home, calls on me the
next day in the very face of the young
man | will not recognize, and who know
all the time that he is no more worthy than
he is himself Now, my dear " Hyacinth,"
the question is how to find out who's who,
and what's what If we were to do as you
suggest, we would recognize about five of
every one hundred men that we meet I'M
less we should follow them to their jour
ney's end, see where they stop to crest"
OF talk" then perhaps the number might
be reduced to one, possibly two.
Notice the argument used by "Hya-
cinth:" A man degrades himself by get
ting drunk, (not slightly intoxicated,) but
beastly drunk, yet his position in society
is such that the very next day, he may
go where he will be met and recognized by
MANY ladies. He will then turn around,
and accuse US of encouraging intern
perance."
o! Dear Editor, consistency is jew
ell" Yet treat this man as gentleman,
knowing how l should feel, were it my
brother who had fallen, and | knew that
woman's influence, above all else, could
save him. Think you not that would
bless any woman for saving my brother,
by simply exertirg her influence? Evil
IDENTIFY Hyacinth" does not believe in
woman's influence.
If we exclude from society all who
drink intoxicating drinks, we exclude some
of the most gifted, soul ennobling men
that ever lived.
Do not think am in favor of intemper-
ance. on the contrary, would do anything
in my power to put down and exterminate
the terrible vice. But when it comes to
women refusing to recognize all men who
are not morally perfect-who do not come
mp to your standard Of what man should
be-I demur. | admit that drunkenness
isa sin. The Bible says "a drunkard
shall, not inherit the kiEgdoa of God.
It also says "Thou shalt not steal," Thou
shalt not lie," and "Thou shalt not take
tie nazs the Lord il yair, AfI u