Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-25
uOu.IDAv rEMPrATlON.

The holiday seaS Jn Is ayahh lear Al
hand. Delightful in its best social as
pect, sacred TO memory as the birth
period of the great Exe,nplar OF Chris
tianity, ard commemorative OF 'he close
OF the old wear and the opening OF the
new, it ought to be cousecratad To such
social customs only ss are Pnre and en-
nobling, TO q new dedication in The SER
vice of the best and highest in lite.
Alas! that it is so often grievously per-
verted into season Of special temp,a-
ton, of debasing and perilous infuen-
ces. The chief tempter 10 the wine cup,
and that nost frequently in the hauds
of woman. ,.....
Strong drink is in no sense . necessity
to good fellowship. For the highercn-
joyments of social life, even when not
taken 10 inebriety, it notably disquali-
fies both men and women. When the
indulgence proceeds from the ''moder-
ate" to the "immoderate, which is 80
generally the case, il puts an end to
society in the true sense. makes des-
tructiye havoc ia the home, dehumaniz-
es its victims, and often ends in
disorder, crime, and death. Of the
thousands OF women who are sccustom-
ed to proffer wine and other strong
drinks during the holiday festivities and
on New Years day, il they could, At
the outset, behold their guests rs in
Il or At estate, most v Nou,d doubtless
vt once abandon the pernicious custom.
MANY a woman p-ofitrs such beverages
simply ia conformity with the behesis
OF fashion, because she supposes her
neighbor will do the same; and many .
yonng man is induc,d thus To drink,
aud through the drink tails, because in
vited by the woman he loves ant ad-
mires-
OF late years, in this metropolis. in
Washington, and elsewhere, prais
worthy examples have been vet OF
holiday entertainments and civiliilcs
with Intoxicating beverages excluded.
AS we close the old century ard staDd
upon the threshold Of the new, II is an
opportune time to amend still more gen
eialy our holiday customs IN this
respect. Won en-, by no meaIs exclu-
sively, are yet very largely. the casto-
dians of these customs. AT their option
those which are pernicious may DO
either abolished or prepetuaied. lie
membering the appalling misery which
the wiBe-cup represents, especially for
woman herself, and the degradation and
suffering il envolves for the race, we
appeal earnestly TO all women whom
our words may reach to hrnce'orth
forego ut all times, but especially
throughout the approaching holiday
season and on New Years day. wine
and all intoxicating beverages in con.
nection with the social festivities over
which they preside aud in which they
share.
We are this year in the midst Of
profound religious awakening. Moth
ing will so effectually obstruct and
dissipate its salutary influence as strong
drink; whether used genteelly in the
sphere of what il called good society,"
or mo,e grossly among the uncultured,
Is it too much 10 ask that the clergy
men Of this city and throughout the
country, rs well rs the press. shonld
TAX. occasion. before the ensuing
Christmas and New Years, to eujoin
upon all, ~ the interest Of Christianity y
and of public morality, the wholesome
lesson of abstinence from all intovicat-
ing beyeragesi Snch exhorativn and
appeal could not tail To be attended
with q truition of most bene6cent
results. s.--Nafionai Temperance djro-
cate, NsT York.