The Red Cloud chief., 1881-01-13
Stop the Leak.

THE handful of men that escaped
through the air-lock at the Hudson
River Tunnel a few weeks since. I'm
willingly leaving a score of comrades to
a terrible death, reported that the leak
was known. and they did their best to
stop it, but it was o late. These leaks
were common enough, indeed, were
every day occurrences. Two workmen
were always detailed to watch for the
well known tell-tale hiss. which death
was kind enough to give by way of
warning. Taken in time the escaping
vital air could be checked, the dreadful
flood prevented. But some one blum
dered. and then, handouts of mud, gar
ments whipped from off their toiling
bodies, Titan m%outhfuls to the hungry
man, were sucked up all in vain, and
the monster could not be appeased with
out his human sacrifice.
1t is an old story. To see a lad of
ten or a dozen years beginning to smoke
is to be tempted TO cry. "stop the
leak" We are not talking to old
smokers; they would not heed us. But
if the boy knew how vitality is being
sapped, how muscle, and nerve, and
brain, and soul are being injured at this
unripe period of life; knew that he is
surely wasting the energies needed for
growth and development of a manly
estate, he might conclude TO stop the
leak. 1t is a fact, we believe, that
ninety per cent. of smokers are forced,
sooner or later, to break off their habit.
They must choose between the weed
and the ear, or eye, or stomach, or
throat, or some noble nerve threatened
with paralysis. But to stop when one
has the custom of a score of years! Oh,
misery. torture! Why should not these
growing BOYS spare themselves the
struggle, which is often then simply
terrific.
A given article of diet always Injuries
OIL. Others can drink coffee; you
know full well YOU cannot; and yet you
are repeatedly, if not habitually. in
dulging in the forbidden thing, to the
peril of headaches and he%art-fiutters.
If you know the articles of food which
are always your friends, p~atronize
them; if you know the practices
through which health and strength al
ways ebb away, leaving you miserable.
begin in time to stanch the flow. Say
no, once and forever. 1t ought not to
matter to you that another man seems
to be able to endure five nights in a
week with only four hours sleep; that
he seems to come freshly to the bank
desk at your side; that carousal, late
suppers, and strong drink do not seem
to shake his nerves. You. at least, are
beginning to cripple underthese abuses.
You have headaches. dizziness. IA
tigues, fits of dependency, dizziness of
attention, and generally failing DOW
ers. Stop the leak. The truth is,
nearly all your friends can see that to
which YOU seem SO blind. They OBJ
serve your lassitude. the pallor and flush
of a feyered s~pendthrift, wasting ma
lures splendid patrimony of youth. the
heavy tread instead of that nameless
ease of carriage and elasticity with
which young creatures begin life's jour
ney. Friends would like 10 warn you.
but they dare not. You, at least. must
stop this expense or die, whatever other
men may do.
What has gone wrong?' asks the
watchful wife at evening.
Nothing. You are constantly 70
peating that question of late"
"Yes. and with good reason. A man
may work never so hard. 60 his daily
rounds never 30 faithfully. knit up his
resolution and wear q freside smile
which he whips out like q mask from .
pocket of the coat he lays of in the
front hall; but worry is q leak which
soon begins to tell its tale. You are
worrying, worrying about something
these three months. Can you let me
into the secret? Can q wife's hand
help? Shall we economize. move into
3 less expensive house, dress more plain
" or give up the horses? At all events
stop this waste. Nothing kills like use
less anxiety. Having done your best
trust God. Remember the holy words
that Mt least. are above a woman's res
son and a woman's wit. inspired with
more than 8 woman's love. BE care
full -overanxious- for nothing. but in |
everything BY prayer and supplication