The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-19
Cam "A Temperance Society be
Established!

Mr.. EDITOR: Some eight or ten
months ago, the Rev. DR.. Trippett laid
the foundation for a temperance society
in our town. It's Inauguration was like
the bubbles from the child's pipe, as
bright, as beautiful, and as empty. It's
birth was brilliant, its duration was
brief. Since its death, the question has
frequently been asked can a Temperance
Society be kept up ia Opelousas9 The
invaTiable answer is, it cannot. On that
answer / take issue. / claim that a
Temperance Society can be main
tanned, and can be made useful. But
to maintain a Temperance Society, and
make it useful, its organization must be
placed In the hands of society's control
ing element, the If a few of
the ladies of our little town desire it, a
Temperance Society can be organized
on a permanent and solid basis. III a
few Of the ladies will get together and
organize a society, for society,s sake, it
will be as sure to succeed as the needle
points to the North. My object in this
Communication is to point ont D way
in which a Temperance Society can be
organized, and / feel sure that the
Journal will lend its influence to-
wards the accomplishment of the same.
Keep the subject before the public and
it win be sure to take hold of it.
/ do not propose any formal inaugural
of such a society. propose in O politi-
cal sense to nse acknowledgements In
limitation. AS / have said, let a few
ladies meet together, around some social
fireside and draw ND a few rules for
their guidance, and then begin the good
work III the cause of Temperance. Let
them first interest all the ladies of Ope-
lousas, young and old, in their behalf.
After this il done, let them draft a sim
pie Temperance pledge and then issue
written invitations to all young men to
Join them, on the following conditions.
For the first offence of breaking his
pledge, he is to he %censured, for the Sc
cOnd he is to be expelled, and socially
OstraciSed from the company OF each
and every lady member OF the society.
For refusal to join when requested, let
the penalty be the same as for expulsion.
This il my intimidation, and [ venture
the assertion, if the ladies do their part
fully, III three months there viii not be
young man, married or single, that
would not rather part with his right
hand, than break the pledge of Tenn
perance under such circumstances, But
TO accomplish this the founders must be
positive, firm, and just. No half way
1HG8oNAGSt AHGy Ahdo1 1SV NSiA pl1ll
part.
This pIan, L admit, requires some
moral courage on the part of the ladies'.
But there ii an old aphOrism, nothing
venture, nothing gain.n III they are
not willing to make the attempt, then
it is true, q Temperance Society cannot
be established in 0pel0nsas.
Now, ladies, the whole matter rests
In your hands. Let it not be said that
YOU form alone the subjects of 0mance
and poetry. Poetry. it is true, loves to
luxuriate Id the splend0ps of synlebry
and the graces OF motion to bask IN the
roses that bloom from the beautiful
cheeks. and the silken ringlets that
hang Hi lovely dalliance from the jew
eled brow of beauty but she never for
gets chat
tfThe reign OF beauty like the blooming flower,
Is but the pride and pageant of an honri
and completes the beautiful picture By
encircling you with a rainbow OF virtues.
YOurs is an influence which like the
blaze from the fagg0t of your evening
heagths, first irTadiates and warns tie
nrabtling companions of y0ur hreslGe
circle. iii its origin and progress, IL
like the circle formed from the pebb d
dronDed up0n the surface OF ON tram
nuiI lake, whose increasing clrcumfel-
enee. growing larger and larger become
hIeudedw with the mass of distant waters,
Will you then use this influence IN q
noble cause! VIII you not hoist the
banner az Temperance and gather
around its folds the yeomanry Of the
land!
annIaud virtue, and condemn vice, ana
ioin III one grand choral:
aBewaFe the bowl! though rich and bright,
rs r4lbfes fash upun the sight,
An adder c0ila its depths beneath,
Whose lure IN woe, whose sting IL GeaTh.
REFORM.