The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-10
GOOD IempIars, ImiOh.

Az ESSAY READ AT TIE MEETING OF TIE
RUTLAND COUNTY GOOD TEMPLARs' UNION,
HELD AT CAsTLEToS, BY MRS. T.. A. COOK
OF CASTLETON.
In orr essay of to-day we will consider
Ignorance rs one of the first great causes.
and the vagarcs of the human heart rs an
other cause of intemperancc and drunken
ness think ii is these two qualities com
bined that originates what is termed the in
consistencies of mankind in the use of al
cohol.
Does it not seem inconsistent to try to re-
form incompetence, or any other crime.
without cradica,ng the first cause of the
evil: Now we that are temperance pco-
pie hold our regularly appointed meetings
10 work together, and devise ways and
means the best calculated 10 promote the
cause, and have continued to do so until it
seems that nothing new can be said or done
by anybody. But as we are still called up
on to do. let us talk about some of the first
causes of drunkenness. When and where
is the seed Just sOWn? When was a child.
and when we were all children and
infants. there was custom in practice
which had been handed down TO our pa
rents of the oldcn time, of putting some
kind Of spirits into infants mouths, for the
first thing. and of feeding them several
times day with it for an indef-
mite period also the first bath
must be n commngling of rum and water
to keep them from taking cold and give
them strength! This treatment was cs-
pccally practiced upon the male portion of
infants, and is in my mind one reason why
men aIc more addicted to drunkenness than
women are. SO ignorant were peo-
lpc that this mode seemed indispens-
able to ilc childs future welfare. This
way of dosing and doctOring was followed
from babyhood to old age for every real
! indeed was the condition Of the
patient supposed that could in no
way be relieved by dream Twas
considered to be of little use to send
for physician in such case. TO what
extent this practice is followed at the pres
cut day ! cannot say, but that it is some
what ] do know to he true, and
| by people Of temperance principles
also, who would not think of us
ing it on any other occasion except
the birth of child will then use it for
both mother and child, and some ladies
will be persuaded to Use wine, ale and por-
ter, so long as the child is supported by the
food which God, in his wisdom, provided
for it. Some will call this plain talk, per
haps indicate, but all will admit that we
have not had the success in the reformation
| Of those whom we seek to save, that we
have desired, and that there is grave er-
ror somewhere, some gigantic cause OBJ
structs our way and our labors are in a
! great measure in affection. And ii we do
not have any success we must be more
thorough in roofing out the first causes, he
they what they may. Facts are facts,
which added to the further fact that a child
may inherit an appetite from its progeni-
tors, and by such management referred to,
have no food free from alcoholic properties
until it is several months old, but with the
organs of smelling and tasting cultivated
to like it, what wonder is it
that we have raised up large crop of
drunkurds -? Indeed, am more surprised
to think that every man we meet is not
trying to walk both sides of the streets at
once, and even women are not bedraggled
with the filth of the gutter as the result of
being born and bred to the use of spirituous
liquors from early infancy. Is it not a
great Inconsistency in us whose nature and
appetites have not succumbed to the demon
drink, to think it merely bestial of those
who are unable to control their appetites
but are overcome by the subtle influence of
| drink, Do not understand me to say that