The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-18
Wine Bibbers.

Wine Bibbers.
There must have been wine-bibbers in
Solomon's days, for in his book of Prov.
erbs ho expressly guards the reader a.
gainst their influence, ond advises him
not to associate with them. There were
such persons when our Saviour was on
earth, for one Of the unjust charges a.
gainst him was that he was wine bib.
Der. No one will dispute that there are
wine bibbers in abundance now. There
are many in our land who, from fashion,
or appetite. or both, drink wine constant.
ly and to excess But if you want to
see it taken universally and by Wholesale
you must 90 to the East. 10 France and
italy, in Egypt aud Palestine, the peo.
pie almost without exception drink wine
But is it not necessity in these coun.
tries? Is not the water impure and un.
wholesome Is there not something iu
the atmosphere which requires tonic OF
stimulant i? And especially in the case
Of travellers, would it be safe to drink
the water, without, at least, rectifying il
with wine2 To these common inquiries
let me reply by giving plain fact,
A year ago last March company ol
FIVE Christian gentlemen, your correspon'
dent among them, started ON journey
to the East, and we're gone four months
travelling in that period about $4,000
miles. We were all total abstainers, and
resolved we would not drink any wine OF
strong drink unless we found it absolutely
necessary. On shipboard we abstained
and although the voyage was very rough
one, we stood it as we'll as our fellow pas
sengers who were constantly imbibing
and reached Liverpool in as good condi
ton as they. In England, Ireland and
Scotland we did not touch drop, anc
had no occasion to. The water was usu
ally good, and when VIC chose it we could
always get a cup of tea or coffee. A,
we journeyed through France aud Italy
we had no reason to think Paul's injunc
ton to Timothy was applicable to cithel
of us. The truth is, although Lone o
US are very strong. physically, We fount
the longer we abstained, and the farther
we travelled, the more hearty and vigor
Gus we became. Even in Rome, Italy
where travellers complain most Of the wa
ter, we; thought Gods drink had beef
slandered, and we drank it freely withou
any penalty. On the Mediterranean ,ant
in Alexandria and Cairo, we had simi
lar experience. If we wanted chang
we found everywhere the sparkling seltSe
water, in glass jars, sold at reasonable
prices, and could get our cup Of te'
whenever we called for it.
At Jerusalem, as we sat each day ia
king dinner. we could see we were won
der to our English and German cousins
who sat in front or beside US. guzzlini
their wine. We drank nothing but wat
er. except the little cup of coffee whicl
was brought on last for dessert A dis
tinguishod theological professor, and
worthy Congregational deacon from Nev
England, expostulatcd with us, and sai'
we were perilling our lives. We replies
we would be cautious, for we were i'm
pressed that our country and the worlt
could not afford yet to lose five such val
liable men as we.
When we were making preparation
for our horseback travel through Pales
tine, our dragomah said, What wine
and other spurious liquors shall l pro
vide for you ?" Our reply was, Non
at ALL" He looked at US in amazemeni
But, gentlemen, are you aware that al
travellers consider it necessary to drin
wine in this country 2" We said, Nv
have heard all about this, but We vii
take the risk. We have good medicines
if we find We need them, but We don
expect to be sick. Take with you goo
stock Of tea, so that you can give us
cup whenever we want it,"
Away we started one Monday morning
We went down to the Dead Sea, and a
long the Jordan and past Jericho, and u
through the country to Nablous and tn
Sea Of Galilee, and Nazareth, and the
on the bank of the Mediterranean throug
Tyre and Sidon on to Beirut, drinkin
water from every spring and fountain
but not drop Of wine, or whiskey, o
brandy, or any other intoxicant. An
what was the testimony of our good drag
oman ? For five years have been en-
gagged 10 conducting parties through Pal
estine. This is the first party | have see
who carried out their total abstinenc
principles, And l must confess to m
establishment you are the first party VIII
have had no headache, stomach. ache, o
some other ache. The others have al
complained of sickness, and it has bee
no uncommon thing for US to stop over
day or two in different stages Of our jour
ney for these invalids to recruit. Blu
you have all been well, and we have no
lost an hour in this trip. am strongl
inclined to say your total abstinence priu
ciples have made the difference" ID
you think 50, Floyd? Then give us
certificate to that effect.
"I'll do it cheerfully," said he. and th
paper is now in the hands of one of ou
number; with the signature Of Roll
Floyd appended to it.
Back We all came. to our own country
without tasting drop of wine or an
other kind of strong drink. The flask G
brandy which one Of our number carrie
with him as a medicine was not uncorked
And our united testimony is /: For bev
erage give us the cool, sparkling waite
which God drops from the clouds, O
causes to spring from the earth for tn
comfort and refreshment of his creature
DR.. Stryker in S. S. Times.
Eyes like dimonds. hair like a vexe
mass of golden feathers, a faultless foru