The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-10

habit upon myself to show the powerful in
! Hucncc of example on the mind of the young
lad knew some Of these gentlemen mus
saw drinking publicly. | had heard their
names mentioned by my father and others.
They were business men or held prominent
public offices and were leading citizens. How
could discover that there was the slightest
error in their composition? AS Tar rs knew
| they were as perfect gentlemen rs The world
could anywhere afford What more natural
than that | should set them up as my beau
ideals and strive to initiate them, vices, viz.
tucs and all? Ii is said that there is no man
sunk so low in the scale of human degradation
and weakness but has some one whom he can
influence Who knows but that since came
to mans estate have influenced many young
lads for evil and started them on the down.
ward path that leads to inebricty and shame =?
Who knows if some of my friendS-some OF
the gentlemen III this AUDIENCE who like my
self have halted or tried to halt on the very
brink of utter and everlasting desoatiOn ere
It was too late, have unwittingly started some
lad astray? The boy just entering the portals
of manhood is almost sure to have many mod
els Of excellency among men OF his acquaint-
aucc whom he aims TO initiate And in nine
tv-ninc cases out OF hundred his living per
sonitication of perfection-of exalted man
hood Is some fast, tlashy, dressy rake! Some
lofty swell who drinks and smokes, chews and
swears, drives fast horses and CANDLES, con
tracts AS many and heavy debts and pays as
little ~ possible. The austere, modest, hum.
bic christian gentlemen, who is temperate IN
all things, rcpluycs the boyish tendency to
slang and waywardness, and the boy makes
him his model Of glOominess Too much care
cannon be taken of the habits, inclinations and
conduct of the youth at the most critical period
all tt,,,r tI,.t 1,.
tween the ages of ten and twenty-onc During
this period their minds are like clear, snow
white paper lou and all who associate with
them are at liberty to write upon their brains
lndclibly what you please, good or evil, love
or hate obedience or rebellion. AT this period
you Can fix firmly upon the mind of your boy
the principles OF morality, religion, that chiv
arous respect and Difference which are due the
opposite sex, and prevent him from ever con-
Meeting the name of woman with vulgarity or
indccency, or by neglect or Indifference you
can let the fertile brain grow up to weeds of
SIN and shame You can let him run with
backguards, and he will grow upa rowdy and
a drunkard If not worse, and thereby bring
down your gray hairs IN sorrow to the grave.
During tins period, too the tender maiden
needs attentive care 10 the end that vanity and
love of dress do not enter her head to the eX-
clusion OF her studies The innate modesty of
the fair sex is perfect. They perceive by IN
stinct the most perfect difference between that
delicate, maideny mod"sty which is always
so graceful and admirable in them, and that
bold unblushing tOrwar,incss, which is so re-
pusvc to educated and refined people, yet sd-
vice and counsel from their parents is always
in order.
Soc that ,nnr hoy does not associate with
tipplcrs and that he does not grow up a drunk
ard and teach your girl to avoid the company
and attentions Of drunkard as she would IA
pcstilcnCc. The young woman who marrics
an nebriate with the hopes OF reforming him,
marries life of bitter sorrow to end with
a broken heart and perhaps find Il paupcr's
grave.
Benjamin Franklin, the PRIMER, philosopher
and statesman, among his many admirable
maXms in Poor Richards almanac had one
which seems to fit my case with remarkable
appropriateness II is this: Experience
keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no
other"
Behold before you q fool, who has been Il
faithful regular and singularly apt pupil in
the school of experience for over twenty five
years. That school Is called the Drunkards
College and its principal was King Alcohol.
During all that time this pupil has scarcely
missed a lesson, never been tardy and at reel
tations and invariably stood 1T the mead Of his
class About two weeks ago an effort was
made TO graduate this pupil \ diploma,
death, was offered him through the imposing
ceremony of delirium trcmens and the reward of
merit, drunkard's grave, stared him in the
face. Thanks to some latent-somc still I'M
estinguishcd principles of selfrespect and the
kind advice % members of this society, did
not graduate. have withdrawn from that
fchOOl forever. Ny name has been erased from
lis roll of dishonor. | come an humble APP
plicant for tuition in this, the school of mOrali
iy, decency, self.respect, sobriety, manhood.
VIII you receive me? | will SIT at your feet
and learn wisdom. will apply myself to OBJ
tain knowledge of the right way-the road TO
A pure conscience clear brain and total alb
stincnce,
at is said that tiger will turn and flee
From maid in the pride of her purity"
saith the poet
| have not that purity as to strong drink, |
which need 10 confront the tiger OF intem-
perance but | have behind me my pledge, |
igned and soleWnly taken before you this day. |
have tlN badge which will wear to show
ne world what have done and where stand. |
feel that have your sympathles and pray
,rs, and lastly have the consciousness that |
nave done my duty to myself, my near and
lear relatives and as II member of the COM
nunlty in which ! live My ability to keep
his pledge inviolate will depend upon my re
,pect for my word, myself my regard for my
relatives and friends and the rest will remain
between my conscience and my maker.