Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-26
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
ICoNTRIBurEp BY r HE WoMEN's TKNPKRANcRU UNIoN.I
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN SWEDEN.
FROM LETTER ADDRESSED TO REV. Ii. A. CLAIR

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN SWEDEN.
FROM A LETTER ADDRESSED TO REV. Ii. A. CLAIR
mo.
The Temperance movement is going on IN
Sweden ; many thousands have been added
TO the temperance army.
We have 60 Temperance Societies, one oil
them consisting of more than 600 members :
We are rejoicing in the work already accom-
plished among US, and are hoping that our
government will do something to stop the
rum-tratfc.
We will still pray and work, because our
work has aroused great attention and Is
bringing about striking results 10y remaika-
BILE means.
Many rum sellers are ashamed OF their
business and close their saloons. and others
would give it up if they could make as much
profit in any other way.
There are multitudes of people who regard
the Temperance issue as question of morals;
and for my part, ! think it is not question
of morals alone but one of National econo-
my and prosperity. like to see the tenn
perance idea lifted to the level of its patriot
ic significance.
1t has two sides one is the Christian side,
putting its arm around the drunkard and
encouraging him with sympathizing words :;
the other side tries to make it safe for him to
walk the streets without fear, by means OF
prohibition.
We must succeed /; for God is in the work:
may He bless the good cause. and by HIS
own grace carry it on, till that day dnwns.
when there will be no more intemperance.
-[Women's Temperance Union.
CHEAP DRINKS AND PLENTY OF THEM NO CuhE
FOR DRUNKENNESS.
DY PROF. s. II. D. FRY.
Not as saw it on ship-board. There were
plenty of all kinds of drinks. from lemonade
and ginger pop to French brandy, and whis-
key straight. But the passengers did not
contine themselves to the former. In fact,
there was very little lemonade. pop, porter,
or ale drank. though no doubt OF good Eng
lish qualities.
Those who found it convenient TO take
anything, found it desirable to take the
strongest, and good deal of 1t.
Not q single American-born passenger In
dulged even in the milder drinks. The Pro-
fessor or Minister who must have brandy
toddy before leaving his berth in the morn
ing on account of the damps and fog was not
on board We were glad of it. But a young
Briton put in so much of his time at the din
ner table aad bar in inspecting the qualities
of the stronger drinks, always ending with
whiskey, that his presence became NUS
ance.
The demon he thus summoned was not ap-
peased by pounding and kicking the sides of
his room all night, to the disgust OF his near
est neighbors, but he must insult Spanish
lady, and come to terms with her husband by
a few blows and scratches, and be put to bed
with piece of raw beef applied to his right
eye, and the promise of being put In irons II
the like occurred again.
His restoration to something approXima-
ting total abstinence was secured, however.
only by the suspension of the small bank he
brought on board (,iiected by the money
panic in America, no doubt, and the conse-
quent failure of the bar to honor his de-
mands.
On the return passage. the one who drank
the most, of the best and highest priced
liquors, was Il re:icent Scotchman, middle
aged and intelligent. In the morning he
was modest. shy man, who scarcely passed
common courtesies with the ladies' after
lunch at noon, he was affable after dinner
he was volatile after tea he was jolly. He
sang Scotch songs, declaimed Scotch pieces
with great gusto, and applied Burnss endear-
ing epithets to the ladiesmntil all would leave
his presence. By nine o'clock at night he was
than more hilarious. He had to be taken for
ward and cared for in a manner of which
know not.
Why do Englishmen and Scotchmen drink
strong drinks? Why do not their many
cheap and lighter drinks, OF far better quail
ty than We have in this country, prevent
these excesses. and cure them where they er-
ist, as it is proposed by some to have them
do in this country?
You say these two cases are exceptions.
Just the same kind ef exceptions as will
generally be found on ship-board every
time.-[Woman's Temperance Union.
TESf?ERASCE REFORMATION.
In 1e47-S l attended school. and during
the winter taught in two districts near the
situated village of Wayne, Ken
nebec county, Maine The place was then
cursed, and had been from the first, with an
old-tashioned rumshop combined with a
country store. Nearly all the trading in the
neighborhood where | first taught was done
at the GROCERY and New England rum,
{" rectified" with water and turpentine, was
the chief article bought by the parents of
some of my pupils. A poor set OF fellows,
half laborers and two-thirds loafers. hung
around the village. whetting their appetites
for rum with crackers and Goldfish. their chief
articles of diet. For twelve years that drunk
ard factory turned out its products of power
ty, misery and crime. The father of one of
my pupils had been in State prison for the
attempted murder of another, whom he had
left in a stream of water for dead. Both
were drunk. 1 have just paid another visit
to this place How changed ! mo liquor
sold within six miles" was told. No drunk
enness in the streets. No homes degraded
and desolated bv drink. The few young
men who had learned to go elsewhere for
stimulus have lately joined a reform club. 1t
seemed like a new town. The two churches
have excellent pastors. The three old school
houses have ell given place to new, tasteful
and substantial structures. A woolen factory,
and one for shovel handles, gives employ
ment TO laborers, and in spite of the hard
times, peace and comfort smiles all around
them.-[Rey. Il. B. Howard, in the Advance.