Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-15
An Appeal to Women.
BY A PARSONS WIFE.

,< Now and then we hear of some dreadful crime or disaster caused by rum, and are thrilled with horror or we ponder some page of statistics, and groan over the long list of victims to intemperanoe, the millions of mon- ey wasted, and the quantities Of grain whics should be the life of mep, turned into l1he means of their destruction. When weHsten to Cough or Murphy, our souls are tirsd with Tn us ; we are ready lor any labor or sacrifice which shall help todrag men out of the oS'r of the tempter, aud vet how often many of us forget 80 to orcer our daily lives that they shall protest against the sin of intemperance, but use wine and cider on our tables, give liquor to our sick, and use it to flavor our foo, q Yet it is the "little foxes that spoil the vines Physicians almost universally prescribe it as Q tonic and in some cases, as in the prostra ton attending levers, literally feed their pa- tients with it, but we are not obliged to follow their directions.
 A friend of delicate constitution had been accustomed to the use of whiskey for a cough or debility, but becoming acquainted with the case of a drunkard made so by physician s , prescription, she resolved to do without it, and told her doctor so. Oh" laughed he, ''l didn't attend that man. Il should know better than to give it toa workingman. There's no danger in your case" But in spite of his remonstrances she persisted, and has lived years without stimulants It takes longer to recover from sickness, perhaps, but wheD strength does come It is real, not excite menL
 Another lady who, under her doctors care, commenced the use of wine, soon found her self in the chains of habit too strong for her will to break. Now, when the insane longing comes on, she drinks herself into stupor anu is laid away in her room by husband and ahiiApon fro,, Na;~ ! friends are told she is too sick to see them. A large-hearted. efficient christian woman when herself. her life is SO sad it seems as though angels must weep over It. And who can paint the misery of her family as they sit des- Olate at such times, and their struggles to hide their sorrow from the world In the day of reckoning will not that physician he held ac- countable for this ruin2
 Gan we mothers, understanding the laws of heredity so much better than our mothers, and the awful power we hold, afford to ''build mp" feehle constitutions on liquor, and SO tail [ the lives of our little ones, and SOW the seeds of intemperance to blossom in our descen- dants2
 And housekeepers too: Shall they SOW these seeds in the daily food for the family Almost every popular cook book abounds in receipts for pies, cake, buildings and sauces, in which wine or brandy is prominent in- gredient. and we blindly follow directions. This sauce has brandy in it, it's nice, said a 6ye-vear-old at dinner and day or Itws. afterward when the flavor was omitted, the child angrily pushed away her plate, exclaim- ing: There's no brandy in it. I won't have hl" What shall hinder that child from be coming an incorporate woman2
 It IS amazing to see women of principle and apparently active christians, so careless on this point. know a. family where hosp tality and good cheer reign, and the mother anxious to give her family and friends tht best, uses liquor in her cooking. Two boys have been her joy and pride, but with taste formed by wine jellies and brandy sauces. an, liberty to do as they pleased, s'for such goot boys could not go wrong," are now confirmet dr.. 'rs, though young men still.
 It seems as though every mother, sister and lady friend, must be overwhelmed witt the responsibility resting upon them. The, know that where they lead brothers ant friends will surely follow with implicit cen fidence in their judgment, and the purer tho woman the more dangerous her example, i she swerve one haIrbreath from the straigh line of duty, and woe to the youns man wh, has inherited the curse of a desire for stimu lanls if his lady friend shall tempt him with , glass of wine, or the delicate cookery fiayoree withiti A @@ @-
 Of what use will woman's suffrage be unde such circumstances? Women may vote to the most stringent reform. and the best mer to carry it out; they may close every salool and forbid the druggist to sell intoxicants they may multiply temperance organization and hold out an encouraging hand to eveh drunkard and then in their own homes where their influence is allpowerful, the, may undo it all. and deliberately mako drunk ards of those to whom saloon CT hotel ba would be no temptation and not the taste fo drink been formed at home.
 God grant an enlightened conscience to American women before He puts more power into their hands !-THe ConqTeQnti0nGlist