The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-12-16
THE PACIFIC
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 10.
(Communleateil
a LIQUOR Dealers Journal.

There are lessons 10 be learned everywhere. even
from a liquor dealers day-book. These entries
were made less than half a score Of years ago yet
he who made them and quite q number of those
whose names appear in the book have passed
away. The dealer furnished his customers with
ale. beer, porter, various kinds of vine, rum, whis-
key, gin, brandy, &c. Some of the individuals
whose names appear. were in good circumstances
Others could i'll afford the sums they were paying
out for the qualification of an unnatural thirst
Sons names are of frequent recurrence others
seldom appear. One is charged Sl0.75 for whis-
key and bitters; and in less than a week, another
charge Of So is found against his name. A Tort
night later he runs up another bill OF $3.50; and
two days LATER be procures two dollars worth of
ale. He could i'll afford this drain on his resour-
ces nor could his constitution long sustain the
working OF the insidious poison. He is no longer
a customer of the liquor dealer.
Another name often occurs. He had a family
and Il good situation was kind hearted and re-
spected. But that cursed thirst for strong drink
prompted him to patronize the liquor dealer, and
he died suddenly in delirium tremens. His wife
and children needed his loving care. He loved
his wife and children, but his longing for stimulants
was a stronger passion, and it conquered the hottest
affection of his heart.
Until / had a look at this journal, / had no idea of
the tax paid by those who patronize grog-shOps.
Brandy. $3.50 q gallon; G bottles gin, SO; G bottles
whisky, SO; and thus in proportion for other
liquors. Surely swine is q mocker; strong drink is
raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not
wise" Young men are deceived when forming the
habit of drinking; for they oyer-estimate their own
power of resistance, and underestimate the growing
power of habit-the power of thirst for stimulants.
Suggest to them the danger of their becoming drunk
ards, and they are indignant. But they are deceived.
By little and little the enemy gains the advantage.
The process is almost imperceptible. Ale or wine at
first, and then something stronger, and still stronger,
until the power of resistance is gone, and the tenn
drinkers gradually selling their liberty. their dearest
birthright, and becoming the slaves Of an imperious
and fatal thirst, which hurries them to perdition.
And liquor dealers who tempt their ~fellowmen.
and furnish the maddening, destroying draught can
be regarded in no other light then as enemies of their
kind. Their traffic may be tolerated for a time, as
was slave trading; but q change in regard to the
business is going on; and the time is coming when it
will be considered as utterly disreputable.
Liquor dealers and their patrons are, for the most
part, shortlived. Few of them attain to old age,
Our acquaintance with those whose names occur
most frequently on the liquor Dealers book attest
this fact. go. that they were wise, that they would
consider their latter end !" o, that they would
heed the exhortation of the wise man, 4" Be not thou
among wine bibbers ;" Wisdom and temperance
promise long life and riches and honor. T.