Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-10-04
For the Chronicle.
INTEMPERANCE.


IT'S true that many wiser and better
men than myself have seen the dire
effects that follow in the wake of in
temperance. and they have pointed out
the many pitfalls and snares that
surround this insidious monster. "Tis
furthermore true that dissertations
upon this subject have become as
thrice told tale" yet, I feel that it is
my duty to raise nay feeble voice in
protestation against vice that is daily
hurting thousands of unsuspecting
mortals into the maelstroom of crime
and ruin. We see the young man,
borne to the verge of bright and joy
GUS manhood, his heart beating high as
Imagination points in bright colors the
untried future, taking Just one drink.
OIL that that one drink had never
been takenl His conscience, perhaps,
stings him, and the blush of shame
oyer-spreads his honest face as he
thinks of his fond mother and dotihg
father. But follow him farther: The
blush of shame no longer mounts to
his bloated cheek, as he drinks, his
conscience alas! sleeps too soundly to
be awakened, and step by step he loses
the all self-respect, and also the re-
spect of others, drags his broken
hearted mother to an untimely grave,
and leaves with disgrace the figure of
that father who had showered COM
forts upon him with a lavish hand,
and whose many bright antieipations
for the future he had crushed by a
single blow. And SO he sinks lower
and deeper into the cess-pool of deg
radiation, and in u short time the once
promising young man is buried in alb
security and disgrace. But alas this
is but one of the thousands of Illus
trations that could be given from every
day life Intemperance has sent, by
its pestilential breath, mothers broken
hearted TO their graves, furrowed the
brow of idolizing fathers, and has
stamped with disgrace the name OF
wives and children. Thousands are
the orphans who are yearly cast upon
the charity of a cold and heartless
world thro' the fundamentally of in
temperance. Then let the young be
warned ere it be too late !! Look well
to it, that you resist the bland and in.
sidious temper, shun it as you would
the poisonous fangs of the adder Of
the Nile, from whose sting there is nc
recovery. Many are the destinations
that CLEAN and dance upon the surface
of that little goblet of wine, yet legion
are the curses that Turk beneath. The
demon who SO blandly applies himself
to your palate and animal cravings
seeks but to make you brute of the
lowest degree. Why are we disguised
and sickened by the black crimes thai
are daily served up to US in every paper
we read, and what is it that drags maj
from the heights of morality and bur.
les him in the stygian waves of obliv.
ion and disgrace? WHISKY! Beware
young man, this potation of demon
wrought sweetness is but bait to lure
the unsuspecting on, until they are a
last engulfed in the whirlpool of ruin
Never let yourself be tempted to quaf
off the glittering contents of the wine
cup, lest you also be required to drair
its dregs of sorrow. Remember tina
although it may Danish care for mo
ment, it will substitute sufferings whose
midnight hues will cover your sou
forever. Again, | say, be,oare, for
| There's death in the cup--so beware,
Nay more-there is danger in touching;
| Avoid then this treacherous snare,
For this hell-poisoned draught's so be
witching."
GREENWOOD AVENUE.