Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-13
a Ladies' Temperance League.
BY MRS. SARAH KNOWLES BOLTON.

In the early part of the temperance work in
| Cleveland, when gody women visiting the
saloons and asking the proprietors to turn from
their wrong-doing to Christ and the right, scores
| of young ladies' were asking " what can We do to
| help OH this good cause" Unfortunately, social
life, made and sustained very largely by the
| daughters OF the wealthy, was not what it ought
| to be the temperance question. Many rcL
| young men took wine and beer, If nothing
stronger, and the OF these usually led to the
| other. There was much querying among older
| headr, whether young ladies', reared in luxury,
would dare say to their gentleman friends: 81
stand on no uncertain ground in this matter. My
aim, my work, my influence, whatever have,
shall be on the side OF total abstinence"
| league was organized, with an efficient young
married lady, as President, Mrs. s. G. Lows, and
| six hundred members joined it, signing the fol-
| lowing excellent pledge:
The subscribers, believing the use OF intoxi-
eating drinks as beverage, to be injurious to
the best interests of society, and that the mod
| crate aud social use of ''WINEs and LIdH Ell
DRINKS" tends to create and strengthen the
coarser appetite Tor strong liquors. and often IN
| wolves disastrous results, Do PLEDGE OURSELVES
to discourage their use by personal influence, in
| all proper ways and to strengthen our influence,
we will not ourselves USE ANY WINE, BEER, or
distilled liquors, as BEVERAGE, or furnish them
| for social entertainments.
| A constitution was adopted giving the object
| OF the society, rs follows
| Its object shall be to unite and direct the ef-
| forts of the young ladies' of this city against the
| use of Intoxicating liquors; to aid by the prac-
tice and influence of its members, in creating an
| enlightened Christian public sentiment on the
| subject OF Temperance, and to win back the er-
| ring to self-control and right living.
| Standing committees were chosen from every
| church. Young ladies whose fathers counted
their wealth by millions, who were acknowledged
| leaders in social position, became energetic and
| earnest workers. Prayer meetings we held by
| them in the various churcher, and q life full OF
desire to work for the Master came in place OF
desire to the world. Mass Meetings were
held. and young people crowded the churches to
| talk of the evils of intoxicating drinks. Every
| young lady brought her friends, male and female,
| to sign the pledge, forgetting whether 1t was
| popuar-or uupopular-so long as it was right.
| Temperance work soon led them to know that
| there more Of poverty and sorrow in the
world than they had over supposed. Their own
beautiful homes were strangely in contrast to
some they found, where liquor had done its ter
rible work. Their hearts Immediately turned to-
| ward those of their own sex less favored than
| themselves
| A room in one of our handsomest blocks was
rented. One young lady pledged herself to see
that the mating for the floor was paid for; an
other the chandelier another the curtains /;
another, books for a library another, mag
| aziues, of which they have twelve, otc
| The President brought her own piano, 30
that music might lend its charm. The room is
| all that culture liberaity and taste can make 1t.
| Lovely pictures adorn the walls IL writlnB-desk
stands in a corner full of stationery, for the use
| of the young women who come there after their
| days work Ii done center table Win DOCKS
| and stereoscopic views, fancy chairs and sofa,
| all make place where any may come and be the
| better for the coming. On side-table, stand
| some exquisite wax flowers made by consump-
| tive, and brought here to be SOLD TO exc out
| scanty livelihood,
| Every afternoon, one young lady belonging to
| the League comes here from three to four
o'clock to receive application from any person
desiring a place to work, servant clerk, dress
| maker, etc More especially from the latter
classes named. From seven to nine in the even
ing, young women, with littlo perhaps to make
| home or boarding house attractive, are invited
here to read, play, meet each other socially,
and many come. Every two weeks the League
| meets for sewing school, to make dresses, un-
derwear, etc, for those who come to them need
| ing aid, and many are made happy by The gifts
| Sociables are held once q month. at which oys-
| ters, cake. ETC., are furnished, and muse and
| reading make the evenings most enjoyable.
While we were at the room, Il sad-faced girl
stole in among the applicants. Her family had
| been wealthy. The mother married second
time, a man whose dissipation brought poverty
| and wretchedness. She was out of work, could
not get sewing even. A pair OF new shoes put
| into her hands by the President with enoourag-
ing words brought GLAD thaokful smile to the
| Young face, as she went back to her desolate
home. A wife and child whose husband and
father lad deserted them came to the League;
The world lad no shelter and the mother needed
hands that were perhaps unused to much sewing
for themselves, wrought pretty garments for
another little one that came INTO existence
homeless and worse than fatherless.
Such all Institution ID ali honor ana Dlessihe
to CITY. The good accomplished IL not counted
by the number of cases relieved. To the young
ladies' interested in the league 1t ID an incalcula-
BILE benefit A life that has its early days tram
ed iii giving and doing, will develop into noble
womanhood, that must leave its impression upon
society. When young women learn That the
world is full of work for humanity, outside OF
self, young men will learn it too, and be glad to
| help in it,
The league is now considering the plan Of
making temperate young men honorary nieni-
, bers, with some suitable membership lee, nVe
dollars, perhaps, and the suggestion s excellent.
| These young people must soon stand where
, those III middle life now do, and the temperance
cause in it's grand growth, must be carried Tor
ward by Young men well az women Iy such
! | Leagues social life will be toned down or toned
up to Christianity's level. The rich will fee
| grateful, but not proud, and learn that much OF
, culture and of soul il found where prosperity
!, has has not smiled the poor, that the rich are
, = not hard and cold, and both together that no,
money but merit is the only true distinction tha
! will stand the test of eternity.
1 strong force is thus developed on the side
of temperance. Young ladies have parties with
. out wine, New Years calls without VINE, and al
careful in choosing the companions to seek those
whose breath il as free from the odor OF wine af
: their own. They make no secret OF stating thel
4 position-the lines are being drawn even ainolt
, the young people-those who drink and thos'
y : | who sell feel the restriction.
u u AS yet the work of the League, say its mem
: bers, has only begun. Discussions and essay
= upon whskey wine, and beer, their influence
. upon body brain, and soul, the misery and povs
> erty they have wrought thus far i'll the world
!, history, what foe we have to meet, etc, D.
u which all will be more thoroughly educated Il
. give reason for their total abstinence faith, W
. hope will come in time. SO long as the opposl
l. tiou work 30 constantly through press and poll
tics there will be need of untiring effort on ou
i, part. Drunkards' wives and children will b
e helped, drunkards reformed sometimes, but tn
y hope OF the world, outside OF the church, l
y largely in organizations just like this describe
II above When young men feel that to drink de
~ bars them from the title of gentleman or tn
% respect of noble young ladies' they will not forr
4. the habit. We must work one step further dow
II even, among the boys and the girls. We wish
N N Young Ladies Temperance League might b
| nitu in