Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-06-18
Written for the SENTINEL.
The III Effects Of Drink.


acquaintances, and so often fathers and
brothers who go down to early and dishon-
ored graves victims Of the drinking habits
of society, and yet they venture to travel ne
dangerous road, when one Of positive sai'4ly
Is open to their choice. They do not seen, b
understand that such danger lies in talSin1'a
drink, but in taking too many, an e{il
which they resolve always to avoid. but
not understanding tho nature Of alcohol nor
knowing that 70 indulge ID Id * ltfatIonl
Is to that extent TO surrender the means Of
self-knowledge and consequently Of self
control, they move steadily on to ruin
Not being satisfied at running themselves
they seek every means of running others, for
more than half the crimes that are committed
in this country are either perpetrated under
the immediate influence of alcoholic deiri-
ums, or may be traced directly to the para
lying influence of the mans drinking hab-
its. Men who are under the influence of
alcoholic drink loose all self-respect and, in
deed oil respect for those whom they hold
hSt'i ehN NSui w thOiA hCdi bilCii
are so impaired that they often stoop to low
and dishonarable acts, or even to the COM
mission of crime at which their moral sem
sibilities would have revolted and spurned
the action had they been free from the de-
grading influence of the poison. When |
look around me and see so many young
men whom esteem highly, who are ruin
ing themselves socially, morally and reli-
giously, am constrained to say can any
phylanthropist or christian Of any denomi-
nation encourage the sale of intoxicating
drinkg There are large class of men who
are daily laborers and who have to resort to
stores most convenient for the supply Of the
table. BY and by some friend comes in,
wishing to be kind and generous, or some
ofice-seeker just before an election, he calls
all present to take u drink, the temptation is
so great that not few can resist it. The
bait is before them-they pull-the trap falls
and the poor victims are caught The little
earnings which they had saved to buy the
necessaries for their families are absorbed
for whiskey, while every week of his indul-
gence renders the man less able to take care
OF those who are depending on him. Bust
ness is neglected, work disappears, and soon
the most abject poverty steps in. Pauperism
conducts these wretched inmates to the aims
house; crime hurries them To the penitentia-
tiary, or disease them to the grave 0, what
a contrast Utter restitution and desolation
reigns where once was smiling and fulfilled
content.
This is no fancy painting, many have wit
messed fortunes squandered, homes that were
once happy made scene of turmoil and
commotion, and hearts which seemed as If
nothing could separate have been torn asun-
der and made TO bleed and ache How can
any one who loves morality fold his arms in
contentment and exclaim, "Oh, well don't
care as far rs l am concerned, they may turn
II spigot at the Monocacy and let it flow TO
the District of Columbia, it will not detract
one jot or little from my happiness But
can you content yourself, can you be happy
TO see your friends miserable? Would you
not like TO be instrumental in extracting at
least one thorn from the flesh? Remember
that the sequal TO happiness lies in trying TO
make others happy. No one who loves his
fellow man, desires TO see him prosperous,
happy and contented, loves law abiding
citizens and moral community, will stand
idly by and say, ~ don't care" when they
see their friends and companions drinking
away their lives, soaking their brain with
intoxicating drink till they are ready for an
enterprise of iniamy and shame and sally
out Of those grog- shops staggering to and
fro 10 tumble senseless into the first hole
that opens 10 receive them. 1t has led many
hundreds Of thousands of noble-hearted men
TO drunkard's grave doomed and damned,
corrupted such myriads of pure souls TO the
capacity and similitude of demons, beggared
so many wives and daughters, made desc
late 80 many homes and hearts and spread
desolation and despair throughout all ranks
Of society When God In his eternal coun-
Gil conceived the thought of mans creation,
he called 10 him the three ministers who
wait constantly upon the throne, Justice,
Truth and Mercy, and thus addressed them
"shall we make man y Then said Justice,
30, God, make him not, for he will trample
upon thy law" Truth made answer also,
80, God, make him not for he will polute
thy sanctuary" But Mercy dropping upon
her knees, looking up through her tears,
exclaimed, 30, God, make bim---I will watch
over him with my care through all the dark
paths which he may have 10 travel" Then
God made man and said 10 him, 30, man,
thou art a child Of Mercy, go and deal with
thy brother" Now let us deal with our
brethren kindly by doing all VIC can TO pro-
mote their happiness, for we have only once
10 pass through this world, and II there Is
any good we can do our cIow-beings let
us do IL now.
hope the time Is not far Ia the future
when we can sing Uncle Billy's temperance
song, which will give you In his own Ian
guage;
Farewell, DRINKS W nigh and handy;
Farewell, rum and gin and brandy;
Farewell, empty pots and kittels;
Farewell, cupboards without 'yictuals',
Farewell, rooms free 10 all wcathers;
Farewell, beds which have no feathers;
Farewell, floors that need a swab-ale;
Farewell, yards that have now wood.pile;
Farewell, faded vest ard brooches;
|. Farewell, coats more holes than stitches;
Farewell, hats that have no rims on
Farewell, faces red as crimson,
Farewell, tubs that have no bacon;
Farewell, ways that I've iorsaken,
Farewell, broken chairs and tables;
Farewell, dwellings worse than stables
Farewell, oatlis that | have spoken;
Farewell, vows that have brolmni
Farewell, landlords and bar-tendcrs;
Farewell, all blue devil sendersn