Litchfield enquirer., 1880-03-11
TEMPERANCE.
BANTAM FALLS, March, 2nd, 1880.

 It was thought by many that the ardent was too freely sold across his bar. Rev. D. G. TomlinsOn, the then rector of the parish, ad
 dressed to him the enclosed letter, which send you, deeming it not inappropriate mat. ter for the Temperance column you have SC kindly laid open to the public. We regret that Bantam needs the same christian interest on the part of her ministers no less today; and that though they are both earnest and out | spoken trends of temperance, with many to rally with them, unaccountably all hands are folded and all lips silent Is it that cunning tool of Satan, sectarian jealousy? "Tske us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines ' For year and half something strangely like bigotry has been clutching the throat of the infant temperance society, until we really feal | it has ceased to breathe. Meantime we are waiting for some startling crime or more glar- ing instances of ruined manhood to awaken us. We'll, if we wait, the event will not be l wanting Our nearly completed lyceum and horsesheds witness our zeal, but we fear it is in the wrong direction. A terrific demon l stands opposite our very church doors, and soon ais whetted appetite will demand our children. If we had done all we could to check thls evil we could then say: II am free from the blood of all men," but when we are doing literally nothing, may we not expect to hear: 'Their blood will require at the watchman's hands p
 As have not learned who "W" is, can
 not give him, this to forward Thinking it's sentences too true to be lost and it's historical value enough to commend it to general read CTS, l submit if
 BRADLEYvILLE, March, 1st, 1884. DEAR SIR. You will pardon me for ad. think, which is intimately connected with the prosperity of our village, the welfare of famil- ies, and the interest of religion.
 lntemperance, experience decides, is always ruinous to the prosperity of village It nev- CT comes alone. It brings with it variety of attendant evils. Expense is a necessary atten- dant on it. But this is not the worst illness, neglect of business, unwarrantable specula- tions, defrauding, departing from the princi- pies of integrity and honesty, which leads to suspicion. shakes confidence, and inclines to overreaching in business-these are but the natural fruits of this vice. Such being the natural consequences of 'intemperance, it be- comes serious question whether we ought not from due regard to the prosperity of our village, do what we can to check and destroy 1t especially as the consequences may be ex. pected in proportion to it's prevalency. Gamb- ling, quarrelling, profanity, and corruption of morals one, or the other, or all of these are almost always connected with it. These may, indeed, exist without it : but this adds fuel to the fire, and renders it doubly destructive.
 But society generally not only suffers from the prevalence of this vice, particularly fami- lies feel it's more immediate and whitening effects It is a fact not to be denied, that there are men among us who are incorporate
 There are men in the prime ot life, with fam twice, but more What must be the feelings of the wife or mother, who, however reluctant to admit it, is torced to know that the husband cf her bosom and the tgt1ter of her children is- no ;4she would not call him drunkard-she could not bear to think it was so she would only say, he drank too much; and she would fondly believe that he never would become a miserable wretch sunk beyond recovery in lntemperance. But it may be so; and this at least is certain, that he has taken the first step if not already far advanced in that downward way. There are parents and children too, as we'll as wives and mothers, who feel the effects of intemperance. l would say nothing of the bitterness of feeling and anguish of spirit a drunken child gives parent; but I would speak for the children The family of drink ing man, especially if he be poor, is generally badly clothed, fed and schooled; and often they grow up idle, ignorant, vicious, and pre- pared to become the nuisances of society. know there may be exception to this, but it is what we may reasonably expect. And are there no families among us who are exempli- fications of this remark, living witnesses to It's truth. Now, methinks there is a voice in this which should reach our hearts, asking "Is there TO rensedy?" When we fill the cup for these men does it not cry, 'For6ear! /"
 But the greatest consideration of all is that lntemperance IS ruinOus to the interests of re- ligion. On this point I would be brief. l would simply refer to this solemn declaration Of scripture, appending few remarks -"That no drunkard hath any inheritance in the king dom of God-he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" Living and dying in habits of in- toxication, he is lost forever. Now is this true? Is it the solemn declaration, the true meaning of the word of God? Then methinks we should tremble for those miserable men whom we know, for our eyes have seen and our ears have heard, to be in habits of intoxi- cation; we know they drink too much. And can we. knowing this have the heart to ad- minister the draught, to pour out and put into the hand the intoxicating cup? If we do it can we expect the appreciation of God upon us If we do it is not Habakkuk 2 15 in some degree applicable to us? I would not mount the judgment seat and pronounce 6 decision but would calmly put the question 'sIs it not applicable ?" And I would further ask, If we do, knowing that men are in the habit of drinking, pour out and put into their hands the cup of strong drink, tsSt right :? can we do 1t and be guiltless before God? Ought we not at once to take decided stand does not the prosperity of our village, the welfare Of families and the interests of religion de- mand it, that we will no more put the cup to our neighbor's lips, when we know that be is in the practice of getting mellow" as it is sometimes termed, with drink? And, besides, as no man becomes a drunkard at once, but by degrees. ought we not to firmly refuse the in- toxicating draught to others, lest they acquire the taste and habit of intemperance?
 1t IS my wish that you may read the above remarks and consider them with the same spirit in which they are written, with calm ness, with seriousness, with utter destitution Of personal feeling and a sole desire for good I am perfectly aware that it is an unusual thing to address such letters as this, but seeing as am forced to that incorporate men, confirmed in the habit, and such as are forming it, gath CT around your premises and drink, the ques- ton was strongly suggested twill it not be good to check and prevent intemperance, if our merchants and tavern keepers >can be persuaded to give up keeping and selling strong drink ?" T ea '
 Accept the regards of your obedient servant,
 D. G. ToMIINsoN. m
 For truth, candor, sound argument and kindlinsss, this could hardly beexcelled. May all who read it accept it's conclusions, renounce the use of strong drink, and refuse to spread abroad this whitening scourgeof intempersnce
 2. LERRos.
 NEW YORK BUTTER MARKET.-In report ing the masket prices for butter, the New York Tribune, of May 20th, said, .'choice pack ages to the retail trade reach 19 to 20 cents, but light colored goods are hard to dispose of, and several lots were thought well sold at 8 70