Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-19
Practical Work for Temperance.
RANDOLPH. October l, 1881

hANDOLfH, OclODer i, 1901.
Mr.. Editor During the year our state has
been visited by eloquent friends and laborers in
the cause Of temperance, and home talent has also
been called out in unusual degree, both male and
female, in behalf of the cause We who sit in the
pews and give our candid attention to their soul
stirring appeals have been moved to make many
VOWS to do something to save young and old from
filling drunkard's grave. Pictures of city dens
of ruin have been painted line by line by those
who have gone to those sinks of iniquity and res
cued son or brother Of some other mother or sis
ter, and, no doubt, some honest souls have longed
for an opportunity to go and do likewise, who
have gone home and felt there was nothing for
them to do because no such den OF death was
within their reach. To every honest friend Of
temperance an opportunity for service will sooner
or later present itself. To very large class of
the citizens Of Vermont, especially in the middle
and western counties, there comes at this time an
offer Of work at once effective and important in
its results.
We have heard much and truly of the evils OF
cider-drinking Cider is made of apples and APP
pies only. Apples are very abundant, every tree
and every wild shrub by the roadside are loaded
to their utmost capacity. Cider mills are work.
ing night and day, and we have heard OF an offer
of apples delivered at five cents per bushe being
declined very large part Of all the product OF
these mills will go into the mouths of ciderdrink
ers, and another year we shall be treated to a
repetition of eloquent harangues in this same
line.
In some sections apple jelly is becoming an ar
ticle Of trade and profitable branch of industry.
If friends of temperance will organize for the
manufacture Of this wholesome and palatable ar
tcle thousands of barrels of cider will be saved
to a legitimate use. In the great apple growing
sections of the states the crop is short and the
aggregate quantity of evaporated fruit will fall
far short of last years product Here, too, is to
| found method of rescuing many barrels of
cider from the topers gulch and converting the
bountiful crop to healthy and paying use. But
we are aware that many far too many, of our
| farmers, are not now and will not be situated 80
they can avail themselves to any considerable OK
| tent of either of these methods Of using apples
To all such | wish to present one other use to
which all the cider apples of Vermont may be
| put which will certainly save the product of our
orchards from making ourselves, our sons and our
neighbors and their sons drinkers or lovers Of
| hard cider
Every animal from the pig to the horse Is pas
| slonately iona Oh apples. opinions dlifer widely
as to the good apples do when fed to various
kinds Of stock. Those who have fed most and
watched the result the most studously are most
confident OF the good apples do; while those
who have put bushels at a time before cows de
clare they dry them up" The effect would be
the same were they to feed corn or other grain in
the same way.
We have known pork made on no other feed
| than cooked apples and mere trihe OF meal
Sheep, young stock and horses can have no regu-
lar ration during the next three months aside
from their feed of hay and grass that will add to
their comfort and growth than good ripe apples,
when we compare the relative price OF apples and
grain Certain it is there is some good" in ap-
pies as stock food and equally certain that what
ever apples are disposed of in this way will be a
net saving of cider from being made "bad
use Of"
II the lovers OF good order and the good of
our neghbors throughout the apple region will
candidly consider Just how much they can indi-
vdually do in this matter and do It now what A
vast mountain of apples may be converted to a
safe and legitimate use, and what rivers OF cider
prevented from being made to float somebody !
loved ones down the stream of ruin, into the great
sea OF despair
Let every one study the situation Of his com
mnnity, and, whether II pays OF not, work at once
and with viii aud an approving conscience, and
| a sober temperate household In all that eoInmll-
nifty VIII be his reward lG'GF. NurrHa.