The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-08
An Essay.

Read before ICONS Station Christian Tenn
perance Union by Miss Nora Barham,
on the 21st of July, and which is pub
lished by request of the society;
INrEMPERANcE:
That intemperance in our country Is a
great and growing evil all are ready to adj
nit. When we look abroad and examine
into the state OF society, we find those who
are in the constant an habitual practice of
an excessive use of ardent spirits to be
alarming. We see the effect that they pro-
duce among our friends. aud our neighbors,
| but the evil is so common, and it is so fash
| ionable to drink that the sight of it has lost
/ half it's terror, and We look upon an intem-
perate man without those feelings of dis
gust and abhoranco which his real situa-
! ton and character are calculated to pro-
| duce. We frequently hear mans intern
| perance attributed to a particular cause as
/ loss OF friends, loss of property, disappoint-
ment in love or ambition. When if the
/ truth was known it would be seen that such
men had previously been addicted to the
use of ardent spirits. Perhaps not immod-
erately and fly to them on such events as
their solace and support. Some tell of the
| happiness of drinking, but oh, if there ia a
wretched being on earth 1t is the drunzard.
His property wasted, his character gone, his
body loathsome. The poison kills the hope
/ of Immortality forever, and his family, who
can look at them without feeling of an
/ guish? Who does not pity the drunkard ?
No gleam of light from heaven, penetratss
this horrible delusion; no voice from the
eternal, bids the responding heart rejoice.
The heart of such being Is a drear and
| cherries void, in him the God-like gift of
intellect is debased destroyed, all ia dark, 4
/ fearful chaotic labyrinth, rayIess, cherries,
/ hopeless.
! Drunkardness expels the reason, browns
/ the memory, defaces beauty, makes the
strclg man weak and the wise fool. 1t is
! the beggar's companion, the wife's woe, the
children's sorrow, many an evil deed has
been done, many murder committed when
those who did these things were intoxicated.
Tremble then if you ever touch the intoxi-
eating draught. Reflect before you put the
/ glass to your lips Remember that you are
/ forming habit which will lead to the COM
mission of every crime to which the propen-
stiles Of your nature rendered violent by in
/ diligence can urge you. Before you are
aware, you may find yourself waking
/ from fit OF intoxication. Separate your
/ self then utterly from this ensnaring sin
| Touch not, taste not, handle not. In entirs
abstinence is your only salty. 1 congratu-
late you gentlemen on the stand which you
have taken against this monster, intemper-
ance, and on the success with which your
efforts have been crowned. Let your watch
word be onward, determination, death and
victory will be yours. To those not connect
ed with the temperance association, 1 would
say, look at this enterprise, it Injuries no
man, defrauds no man, has no sectarian
or political object in view, it is only to re-
lieye orr infant nation of burden, and
curse which is fast placing it side by side
with buried SODIUM. To he a drunkard is
to destroy the soul as well as the BODY, and
what shall man give in exchange for his
soul. But you are all in danger of intern
perauce piled as you are by SO many al
lurements. Look around you and see how
many strong men, how many ofthe wise, the
moral, the amiable and the apparently pious
have fallen before the fascination of this
prince of serpent. Here / close, the path
of duty is plain, these evils may be correct
ed, a Firtuous and independent people may
rise in their majesty and correct them all.
l call on all whom now address to exert
your influence in this cause, your country
calls on You to do it, and every man who loves
her welfare should tread no Facilitating
course in this great and glorious reformation,
but more especially, / cab on the young
men and ask their patronage in this cause,
appeal to them by their hopes Of happiness !
by their prospects of long life, by their de- ]
sire of property and health, and by the fact /
that by abstaiuarce alone are they safe from |
this crime and grave OF drunkard2