The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-01-08

WHAT'S IN AN ATMOSPHERE?
Il Paper Read at the Union Temper
ance Meeting, Sunday Evening, Dec.
q, 1874.
by DIR. GEO. o. MOORE.
BY the atmosphere, we understand
the agent or aerial fluid which Surrounds
US, in which we ire, ,,.ore and act it
is practically omnipresent-; we breathe
it with every breath, and the relative
proportion Of its constituent parts,
causes a feeling of exhilaration and
cleerfulness, and all appearance Of an
imat ton, or feeling Of depression and
lassitude, and an appearance OF dull
ness, according to the greater or less
abundance of the life giving oxygen.
This atmosphere OF ours permeates our
houses, creeps into the pantry, occupies
the bedroom and plays ide and seek in
the closet and bureau drawers it en-
volopes us like Il shro I'd, and assidu-
OuSly attends us wherever we go.
Chemically speaking, it is composed of
nitrogen, oxygen, carbon. C acid, ammo
mia and watery vapor; these are the
same III every part of the earth; whether
waters of the Mississippi to the Mexi-
Can Gulf, in the United States, Europe,
Asia or Africa, we yet find Incorporated
in the atmosphere these same elements.
The proportion is usually found to lie
100000 600 part Of ammonia, $500
part of carbonic acid, 1-5 oxygen and
l4e:lrly As it-'ogen. The proportion Of
nitrogen and oxyg4 I'll is always the Same
in any part OF the world the proper
ton OF CarbOnic acid varies according
to circumstances. When the amount
is much obore the proper proportion, it
becomes unhealthy and unsafe. There
is al ancient legend that the atmOs-
phere OF i room, full of people and
poorly ventilated, will soon become
corrupt and unfit to breathe presume
you have all heard this story before.
The impurity arises from the super
abundance of carDonic acid, which car
bonic acid is exIlaled from the lungs of
the said people. We sit and breathe
this putrid, unWholesome air, coming
through bad teeth, diseased gooms and
lnfi;Imeu Threats, when we would he
shocked ut the idea Of eating with the
same knife and fork, or from the same
plate with others. Now while this pol
luted atmosphere is not Immediately
fNtUl, it Is unhealthy, and shows its eff
fects by making us dull and sleepy, and
finally makes us sick As we say, gives us
4 heoul0che. pure air is necessary to the
enjoyment Of health, and the smooth
working OF the human machine.
There is another sense in which the
word atmosphere is used, i. Z. in regard
to mental and moral states of society.
We speak Of Il political atmosphere, Il
moral or religious atmosphere, an at
mosphere Of evil, etc. The atmosphere
with which we have to do this event ~
is Il temperance atmosphere; what it is,
how to create one, how to perpetuate
it, why its necessity, what it's effect.
What IS Il temperance atmosphere :?
1t is II condition Of things existing in a
community, represented by people who
do not buy, sell, use, or in any way en-
courage the sale or use Of Intoxicating
liquors us II beverage. l speak of in
temperance in the matter of liquors. as
the kind which produces the most 40
ticcuble effects, although there is, of
course, intemlerance in food and dress,
and i'll the use of that most disgusting
thing-tobacco. How shall we create
this atmosphere First, remove the
beams out Of our own eyes; let us ex-
anime our own lives and carefully purge
ourselves OF even the suspicion Of evil
in this respect. Refrain from using the
~accurseu stuff in amy way, Shape or
manner, and he honest with ourselves in
the search aid 4 answering the ques-
ton as to whether it is necessary.
When we debate the question Us to
whether castor oil is necessary, we are
honestly and thoroughly convinced that
II Is 50 before we open our mouths to
admit the natl5eOus dose, and then shut
our eyes and grit our teeth when we
take it are we thus honest in tile mat
ter Of liquor? When am sent for in
the middle Of dark, stormy night to
visit i patient five miles off, go; but
it is like having Il tooth extracte to
think OF it, and only because am firmly
persuaded after thoroughly questioning
the messenger, that it is necessary :;
IAN thus careful as to the sale or use
OF intoxicating drinks? DO we, each
one, bring the same arsume is to bear
ulDn this question Of the necessary use
OF liquor, that we do upon anything
very repugnant to our senses
Having picked the mud out of our
speckS iii our neighbOrs eyes, we should
~ "OaOo hwy OIONCil, OtlU" LllStU GllC
sale and use Of Intoxicating drinks is
contrary to our ideas of Responsibility
and honesty, and the results thereof
repugnant to our sense Of decency and
morality: The young ladies are respons-
IDLE for their share in the creation of
this atmosphere: if they discountenance
the use Of liquor and decline to associ-
ate with young man who drinks (the
only safe way for them to do), tell you
there would he Il rafting among the
dry bones and a speedy abandoning of
the habit. W. should not allow our
selves to make sport of drinking, as we
are I'LL apt to do. What, ask III the
name OF God and humanity, is there to
laugh ut in the sight of creature, made
after the image Of God, under the intlu-
ence of liquor, his natural powers, men,
land physical, Frustrated, and himself
degraded below the brute level? What
is there to boast Of or chuckle over, in
the act Of drinking liquor Whose APP
pl:tuse do we gain, that of the best men
in the community? Not by any means.
Whose respect do we secure No le's,
not even that Of the lowest and
most fawning creature in the commune
ity. Would you boast of the fact that
you could drink more water, more milk
or coffee than any one? or that you,
could drink any at all? Why not
Must it be something that puts you up
hal 1.>E