The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-05-04
The Temperance Movement.
HoNoLULU, March, 1881.

To lie Rer J. b, Boston, Mass.
Ny DEAR JoHN,-I promised in my last to give
you some account of the state of social life gene
rally in our island community, where You so
pleasantly spent some of your early years. And
find that can best do this Ito my own satisfac-
ton at least) by transcribing occasionally a few
leaves from my diary You will remember that
YOU and l took lessons together lofsg ago IN the
art of shorthand writing, and have managed to
keep in practice by jotting down my diary IN
characters, which practice, while it reuders the
record sealed book to all others, enables me to
perpetuate the story of great many everyday
occurrences that ! would not have written in
extenso. Besides frequently aInuse myself, when
have company at the house, by taking notes OF
any conversation that strikes me as interesting
and worth preserving current topics.
A good deal of interest has lately been aroused
here on the subject of Temperance. The meetings
which have been well attended and lively, (for
this clmate) and the result so far Is an organlZa-
tion which it is hoped may accomplish good
work !. is an organization however on a some
what novel plan,-to the apprehension Of old
temperance workers,-as, instead of the usual sys-
TEN of a Pledge, Constitution and Bylaws, with
President, Vice, Secretary, Treasurer, etc, there
is here a committee of twenty-one ladies and
gentlemen, who divide themselves into various
subcommittee for carrying on the work Public
interest in the cause is sought to be created and
maintained by meetings once month, with
lectures. and an attractive musical programme.
But to my diary. A few evenings ago, there
gathered on my veranda number of old friends,
old acquaintance of yours as well. There was
Captain Absolute, who although gallant spirit
and generous to a fault, is a good deal of pesSl-
mist-a stickler for the old ways-and very plain
in expressing his opinions; Parson Adams, over
flowing with the milk of human kindness and an
earnest desire to benefit his fellow-men, but
witha quite ignorant of the worlds wiles; Doctor
Esculapius. a quiet man of the world, deeply read,
and possessing a wonderfully retentive memory
and last, the genial, witty, but unstable George
Aimwel,-of whom more anon. My guests were
comfortably ensconsed in arm-chalrS on the
broad, vine-embowered veranda, the Captain enjoy
ing his pipe and George his cigar, while the Doc
tor, as well as the Parson, eschew tobacco III all
its fUrms. George opened the conversation by
remarking-"Th There Is to be meeting at the
vestry of the Fort Street Church this evening for
the purpose of organizing temperance society
suppose all gor
The Cdpta6.-(Giving George look that was
meant to be severe.) A good idea for you to go,
George, and sign the pledge, and stick to 1t you
know you can't drink like anybody else. Two
glasses of whisky will upset you and once you are
started, you don't know when or how TO stop.
GeOrge.-I say Captain, how many glasses does
it require to upset y0a
The CapiaiR.-(S ternly.) 1 never was upset by
grog in my life, young man. have always taken
my regular allowance in moderation every day,
almost since | can remember; but not abused the
good things of this life which God has given. l
can take care of myself without signing my liberty
away on a pledge The good book says that
every creature OF OoO Is gOOu. ana nOtlllB 70 De
refused, but to be received with thanksgiving
GeOrge.-lf God has given alcohol to man, then
/ suppose that IN the same way he has gwen gun
powder, bullets, guns, swords and bayonets for
men to use, and go on killing one another as fast
Po,-son Adams.-But Captain. think of the infu-
euce of your example. Remember what the ApOs-
tie Paul says-"If meat make my brother to
Offend will eat 40 flesh while the world standeth,
lest make my brother to offend"
The CaptdiH.-Very well for Paul, perhaps; but
shall continue to eat roast beef and drink beer,
aye, and wine too, whoever may be offended.
Besides, one requires some stImulent IN warm
climate. Eli, Doctor
Dr.. EscHlapiHs.--Allow me to say, sir, you make
a grave mistake. DR.. James johnson, of the
Royal College of Physicians, London. in his work
on g The Influence of Tropical Climates on Euro
pean Constitutions" published as long ago as
1896, saws: "a very common opinion prevails,
in the professiOn-and ] am not prepared to
deny its validity-that during the operation OF
wine or spirits on the human frame, We are better
able TO resist the agency of certain morbid causes,
as contag ion. marsh efiiuyium, cold, exhaustion,
etc. But let It be remembered, that 1t IS only
while the excitement lasts that we ctn hope for any
superior degree of immunity from the said nOxi-
Gus agents; after which We become doubly dis
posed towards their reception and operation The
deusion III respect to yinous and splrituous pota-
TONS in hot climates, is kept up chiefly by this
circumstance, that their bad effects are in reality,
not so conspicuous as one would expect and they
rather predispose to and aggrayate the various
causes of diseases resulting from climates than
produce direct indisposition themselves. But the
truth is, that as drunkenness, II a moral point I
vfeSy leads to every vice, in medical point of
view the use of alcohol accelerates the attack, and
renders more difficult the cure, of every disease,
more particularly the diseases of tropical climates
because 1t has specific effect, may saw on those
organs to which the deleterious influences of
climate are peculiarly directed. In short,
the nearer We approach to a perfectly aqueous
regimen in drink, much the better chance we
have of avoiding sickness"
The Captain listened, gravely shook his head
and vigorously pulled at his pipe; the ParSan
smiled and nodded approval; and George, remark
ing that this was good introductory to a temper
ance movement, persuaded our party to attend the
meeting. And thus ends, for the present Lessons
from my Diary" l1IPRrMATUR.