The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-03
THINK OF 1T.

The great evils Of Intoxicating drinks
have been receiving much consideration
Of late, and it is to be hoped no small
amount Of good will result from the agi-
tation. Not only is the use OF strong
drink injurious to the persons who im.
bibe, demoralizing to the communities in
which they live, and terrible in their
curse upon the inebriate's family, but it
is an enormous ond total waste. The
man who drinks whiskcy. wine or beer
gets 10 more nourishmcnt for his money
than he could obtain by drinking the
pure, sparkling water which is so freely
given by the Creator to all his creatures.
1t may not be generally known, bu; is
nevertheless true. TINT alcohol and malt
have almost absolutely no nutrilion.
The human system which ne:er sccretes
alcohol in any form, and cannot nssim:-
late it at all, is obliged TO consume por-
tion Of It's energy and vitality in throw
ing this foreign substance of, and, Of
course, the more Il man drinks the greater
will be the tax upon his constitution to
get rid of it. Experiments made some
years ago by Lebig, the celebrated Ger
man sccutist, proved that barrel of
beer does not contain, outside Of the
water, az much nourishment rs the flour
that can be placed on the point Of pen
knife. When this is true, the question is
why do mon drink? 1t dncs not make
them any better, nor happier, NOR wiser,
nor richer. 1t does not make them any
better citizens nor moro valuable mem
bers of society. It has host of evils,
and is without anything like an approxi-
mate benefit.
Men see this; they admit it; and yet
they drink. Not only do they drink, but
tho terrible habit is on the increase. 1t
is difficult to conceive the full extent Of
the use Of intoxicating drinks. The Re
taller, which is the organ of the brewers,
says: During 1880 taxes were paid on
1891, 900 barrels, or IA, 100000 gallons.
This is equivalent 10 about l50 mugs for
every man, wonlnn and child in the coun.
try. Leaving out the females and chill
drcn, this vast quantity represents 600
glasses :. year for each male over 81 years
old in the United States. When we con.
slider the very largo number of adult
males who drink no beer Mt all, and the
other host who partakc of it only in tho
most moderate manner, and at more or
less protracted Intervals, it is evident that
some other Americans must drink great
deal. At five cents glass this beer
manufacture of 1880 brought 1876, ,OOO,-
600, or about $3.50 per capita for every
man, woman and child. This is n quar-.
ter more than the total expenses of run
ming the United States Government"
Think Of 1t The beer which pays taxes
in ono year would retail at near four milk
lion dollars. How much is mnde with
out paying the ;ax2 How much wine,
haw much brandy, how niici, whiskey,
how much rum and how muck ale is con-
sumed in the same time? Tho sum
would be many times rs great. This ex-
hibit not only shows tho wastefulness of
intempcrance, but it also shows what
little things can do. Five and ten cents
n drink in the United States alone raises
billions of dollars every year. This
money, if saved, could do SO much good,
and make so many poor people happy,
that it is national sin to waste it in
strong drink.