Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-10-16

bots; On TEMPERANCE,
No. 10.

NcSSFS. Edi'JrS:
No slavery known to the wrc'ched
ones of earth compares with the
slavery Of the poor drunkard His
powers Of resistance are gone. liciS
under the complete control Of whisky.
How strong, gcd how calling the
chains which bind him to the doycSW
He lras once q free man: he could .
then gaze up into his Makers face and
say, "Our Father, which art in .
Heaven, hallowed be thy name" See /
him then walk out and view the /.
elorieS of the morning. The King OF
day opening his eye in the East and
flooding the Western horizon in sea
of glory. His whole being is lifted
up in supreme alteration before the
| builder OF tie universe. Now, bis
glazed eye sees no beauty or subllmlty
in this vision Of Splendor. His only
attraction is 10 that iOceIy den where
whisky is being sold No smile fits
across his besottcd face till this hellish
poison reaches his stomach and electrl-
ties his boated carcass. How hurried
" he passes along in his tremulouS
and shuitling way His brethren are
on the lockout for him from this
rendezvous of death.
Language fails me in describing
this creature who, with a steady but
sure step, is filing his way down to the
chambers of perdilion. The most
sacred ties known to the human heart
are trodden in the dust.
We are writing these dots" for
the benefit of those not already
manacled beyond the powers of recla-
nation. Let US look back upon the
days of his youth See him IN has
infancy How innocently he prattles
upon his mothers knee. Who could
foresee bis degradation? His fcnd
mother paints his future without a
cloud resting upon his faith she looks
forward with emotions cf pleasure
when his strong arm will support her
: feeble and wasting form. oh God
could she see it all! Her heart must
, break in anticipation of the terrible
reality. Our Heavenly Father in
. mercy keeps these things hid from US.
t Thus permitting US to plod on, and
hope on, trusting in his protecting
, arm, Her noble boy, like all drunk
: ards, commenced moderate dlinker.
+ His mothers warning voice he passed
n by as an idle tale. He knows how
u far to go. He never intended to die
2 a drunkard. Not he. But for all this
= the work of destruction goes steadily
forward. In a short time he comes
e home in the midnight hour beastly
drunk.
See that bowed form putting her
wayward boy to bed. How tenderly
she performs this sad office. No tears
!. are shed as her hearts grief is toe
;. great for such an utterance. Again
of and again this is repeated till hope
D takes it's flight from the mothers
bosom and she dies Of broken heart
Now see the poor drunkard adrift il
Of the world, without single heart tc
4 =. care for him. Everything is lost save
= the inward thirst for whisky. This
.e hellish poison is burning up his citats
IN destroying his intellect and preparing
$. his soul for the fires of the seconC
"a death. He is offensive to every one
4 The moderate drnker shuns him. HI
to begs bis way through the world. Ht
d, sleeps often times where the hog:
le have slept. He has no friends or
" earth. He cares for nothing save
of this destroying beverage.
III l heard an incident illustrating t.
at the very life the estimate the drunkart
IN II, places upon whisky, which is to-
cd good to be lost. 1t was an expedien
be of an amiable wife to save her drunken
in husband. After trying various ex
ch periments she at last fixed upon thi
n. n plan: She engaged watch for
> stipulated reward to carry Philande
to to the watch-house while yet in stat
he of insensibility, and to frighten him
pie little when he recovered. Under thi
he he arrangement Philander awoke abou
ed II O'Clock at night and found himsel
as lying on pine bench in strang
and dim apartment. Raising himse
upon his elbow be looked aroun
H.. until his eyes rested upon a ma
"' seated by the stove smoking a ciga
Of "Where am | ?" said Philander.
md ain a medical college," said tt
by cigar smoker.
ea- ',a "What doing there ?"
"Going to be cut up"
ms, "How is that Z"
odi- "Why you died yesterday, wht
led YOU were drunk, and we boug'
lnu 'hs your body to make an automy.'
nos at is lie, am not dead"
i "No matter, we bought your carca
f. of your wife, who had a right to 81
it, for it is all the good she ever cou
rJs rS make of you. If you are uot dc;
s,al that's no fault of the doctors, al
rds, they'll cut you up alive.
'hs, you will do it eh 2" asked the o
So 30 sot.
a%o .% CAV to be sure we wiIl-nc
ton directly. Don't you hear the o
four professor and students coming! '
will he at work on you directly"
or We'll look here old pard, can't y
'''e' let nue hare something to drink betc
,ers, you begin :"
!ular The last speech satisfied the watt
hich man that Philander's was a hopel'
pay case. as his reward was contlns'