Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-03-13
For the cHRoxIcLE
CIDER.


In q quaint old book now entirely
out Of date may be found the story Of
a great and powerful city of ancient
( times. which, with Reason on the
throne and Caution stationed at the
( gates as Chief Inspector, was Obliged
I to wage constant warfare against the
] enemy-the armies of King Alcohol.
] 1t seems that the latter were contin-
ually laying their plans, hoping to at
last drive Reason from the throne,
destroy all the people and lay the city
in ruins. To accomplish this purpose
they first tried fattery, then force,
and at last straIagem. They con-
cealed themselves in a whisky cask
which was waiting at the gates for
admission. But Reason was wise.
Caution was on his guard and in
stantly clapped his brand upon it and
burned deep the impression, a. Death,
eternal death % They were for the
time defeated, but not discouraged.
They then endeavored TO pass in the
forms of wine and brandy, with no
better success; then slings, cordial.
&c, but all to no purp Jse. The Keen
eye of the Inspector detected them
every time. Finally they turned away
in despair and were about to leave the
city, when they cbaneed to meet a
countryman with load of cider. As
a last resort they entered it ca nfdsse,
and in this disguise succeeded. The
cider was admitted; but no sooner
was it safe inside than it began to
flzzle, and foam, and hiss; out sprang
the lurking devils, and with demOniac
wells of triumph rushed through the
city, leaving death and destruction
on every side. Reason, who had so
so long and so we'll held the Teins of
government, was the first to fall
victim to their terrible, rage; and in
an incredibly short time they had
put the last one &c death by slow fires
and other tOrtures. Thus through 4
slight oversight the no
blest, the most exalted city that ever
existed, was ruined beyond hope of
destruction the more
complete because of its former great
ness.
Though somewhat fabnlousi its ma
ture, the lesson teaches q wholesome
moral. Undoubtedly every township
in our county can boast (?) of few |
illustrious sons who from time to time |
disgrace themselves and their friends |
by becoming "a little the worse
for hard cider" Sometimes they are |
old customers, who for the want |
thereof" of something still stronger, |
swiiI down the miserable stuff; but
often they are young men, or mere
boys, who have their license for so
doing in the fact that their elders do /
the same unblUshingly, and with no
apparent i'll effects. But in either /
case the result is the same-drunk on
cider and well on the way to ruin.
Now since this is well known to all,
why is not cider classed with the rest
Of Intoxicating drlnks?" Why does
not Public Opinion bring down her
foot fairly and squarely upon this
snake in the grass? I? And above all
why do not Temperance Societies
lake more decided stand against it?
They deem il their imperative duty
10 prosecute all who sell sUhiSky IN
lawfully. Sometimes they even go
go far as to make raid on the dram
shop, capture the barrel. and feed the
to mother earth. Very well
lone. But when they know That
four out of every five cellars are glad
1ened by the presence Of from one to
/ dozen barrels of cider, they lift not
/ finger to set them leaking. Oh"
hey say, there is no law that will
protect US in doing that" Then let
hem appeal to the higher law of JUS
ice and right; that, at least, will
Uphold and justify them in whatever
iteps they may take towards destroy
ng intempeTance.
Friends, it is not enough that we
Op off here and there a bough of the
I'D upas the whole tree must be
brought low. The war of extermina-
ion must go on until neither root nor
branch remains. We may cast out
he demons of rum, wine and whisky; :
we may fetter them with chains as
1onderous as Resolution is able to
iorge; then we may with bolts and
lars fortify ourselves against them
md think we are safe. Vain belief!
lust so surely as cider is left unehal-
enged, we have in our midst traitor
Who will unlock the doors from the
inside, unehain the legion, and We
ire at their mercy, even while We are
aking the oath of total abstinence.
As the watery element, that finally
the noble ship, sometimes
inds its way through the passage the
iny worm has bored, so that master
lend, the drunkard's tiger appetite,
nay, and often does gain the first
-ietOry over man through the OIca-
ional perfectly harmless" glass of
ider. Who will come to the rescue ,
nd help US place the cider-pitcher
ide by side with the whisky-bOttle.
hat all may know it-that all may
ouch not, taste not, handle not, and
e secure! TEETOTAL.
February "a, 1872.