The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-05-25
.lolaalOsonbiae Cblef.
Barnum Lectures on Temper
ance.

ture on temperance by P I. Barnum,
of New York. Even the stage was
threnged, and in the aisles and rear
of the hall were hundreds who were
unable to obtain seats. About
o'clock Mr.. Barnun appeared on the
platform. and was greeted with LOUD
applause.
On being introduced to the audience
Mr.. Barnum said he supposed large
number were present for the
object of gratifying that feeling
which is inherent IN mankind, ana
which he had catered to for many
years-culiosity Laughter All
are interested in this subject of tenn
perance; man in every stage of life Is
an interested party, and when we say
man, we mean woman also, be-
cause man embraces woman. Laugh
ter. The human system might be
compared TO fine watch, which may
be easily ruined through ignorance.
Dropping vinegar instead OF oil INTO
q watch spells it, and whisky has IKE
effect on the system of man.
The remaining portion OF Mr. Bar
NUNS lecture was made up largely OF
anecdotes, interesting and often laugh
able. and every one making strong
point against intemperance.
The lecturer said that some people
held that liquor was intended Tor the
use of man as well as anything else.
God made food and drink of many
kinds, but nowhere in nature is alcohol
found Applause. Medical men
had found by research that alcohol,
even if used moderately, is injurious,
and in analyzing the blood OF those
who had used liquor traces of alcohol
were frequently fonnd. Whisky for
man is like spurs for horse; it may
start him along, but there is no nutri-
ment in it. a tE
Mr.. Barnum said that physicians
erred in prescribing milk punch for
mothers who were troubled by the
crying of their babies. The object OF
stopping the crying, however, was
accomplished just as soon as the baby
became booty on secondhand milk
punches daughter. But it was
very fhurtfrl for the baby.
The evils of tobacco were also por-
trayed by the lecturer, who dwelt par
ticIilafly on It's effect in depraving the
appetite and disalranging the diges-
tive organs. r1l6
Regarding the use of liquor from a
financial stand-point, it will be seen
that it is q fearfully expensive habit.
Every fifteen years the entire value OF
our United States is swallowed down
in rum. Thiserime of drinking is not
confined TO any one class, but is COM
mon to all, and the range of the 1abors
of the temperance men is therefore
very great. We find this crime prev
alent among those who are known as
nice, generous, good fellows, and it is
Just this class that we should save,
for their generous spirit would lead
them to use their means more to the
advantage of their fellow men than
by spending it in rum. Why not go
around with boiled potatoes in your
pocket, and on meeting friend take
Il bite, and say, aHere's your good
health
The lecturer stopped suddenly at
about the middle of his lecture, say
ing that he wished to afford an oppor-
tunity for taking a collection in the
aid of temperance in this District.
The baskets were passed around, and
;s.handsonle. sum was received.
Resuming his remarks, Mr.. Barnum
read a paragraph from the report OF
the superintendent of the poor in
Fineiand, n. j. showing that strict
temperance prevailed in the town and
the result thereof was that the poor
expenses were but a trihe each year,
and in the year of the report not a
grog- shop existed; there was but one
fire, but one robbery, and but one ar
rest for any offense. The lecturer be-
lieved that temperance was responsible
for this excellent condition of affairs.
The moderate drinker is even more
dangerous in the community than the
hard drinker, because the first leads
men to drink, while the other
is a warning. The great effort should
be to make the use of liquor disrep-
Tltable. Responsibility is the strong
hold of liquor dealers. The commu-
nifty should oppose whisky selling be-
cause it causes the greatest part OF
the existing poverty, and fills oul
pauper asylums, which each and al
are called upon to pay for. Ladies
have an important part to play in put
ting down this e,irse of intemperance
and it is their duty to act, for theil
future lives may, perchance, be blast
ed By the intemperance of dear one
who from human being, may be
transformed into a fiend. Let thu
young ladies say to their lovers
= Your lips shall not again touch my
cheek until You abandon the use O
liquor and there would be lively
travelling In search of temperance
pledges. Laughter Liquor-sellers
say they have right to sell because
they have licenses, but the lecturer
did not believe that because he had q
license to exhibit here he would be
allowed to place his rattlesnakes out
on the sidewalk to warm themselves
to the danger of pedestrians The
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