The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1882-01-14
TEMPERANCE COLUMN
Edited by W. R. Fowler. i.


in America, which was at the time,
forty years ago, considered spacious
hotel and model of its kind, located
in the city of Albany.
Tho people Of certain town had
met together to discuss the subject of
license and to decide whether any
one should be authorized TO sell
strong drink. The town had suffered
greatly from its sale and yet the lead ;
ing influences were opposedto total
abstinence. At the meeting were the
clergyman, a deacon aud the physi-
clan, leaders of public sentiment, and
all in favor of permitting a few men
OF high moral character to sell alcohol
for they all agreed with Anti-fanatic
In the opinion that alcohol when
used in moderation was good crea-
turc of God, and that TO restrict its
sale or use In moderation, was a re-
fiection upon the benevolencc of tile
Almighty. At the meeting there
seemed to be great unanimity of sent
iment and only one man who had
formerly been resident of the town
took strong ground in favor OF total
abstinence, in support of his views
he turned the attention 10 the poor
house, the Jail, the prison, and the
grave yard, all Of which contained
the victims OF rum, aud besought
them to move against the monster
making such desoiation. But he was
impotent 10 effect change and the
question was about TO be put which
was fiually TO decide the matter, when
no ono arising to continue the dis
cussion then arose from one corner
OF the room a miserable female. She
was thiniy clad, and her appearance
Indicated tie utmost wretchciness,
and that her mortal career was al
most ended. Alter moment of
silence, and all eyes being fixed upon
her. she stretched her attenuated
form TO the utmost height, then her
long arms TO their greatest length,
and raising her voice 10 slriil pitch
she called upon all to look at her:
Yes" she side, ..look al me, and
then hear me. All that the last speak
er has said relative TO moderate
drinking as being The father of all
drunkenness, is all true. All prac-
lice. all experience, declares its truth
All drinking OF alcoholic poison us n
beverage, In health, is excess. Look
upon me you ali know me, or once
did you all know l was once mis-
trcss of the best farm la this town;
you all know, TOO, / once had one oil
the best. the most devoted of hus-
band you all know had fine, noble
hearted, industrious boys. Where
are they now? Doctor, where are
they now7 You all know you all
know they lie all in a row, side bs
side, in yonder church yard !; all, ev-
cry one OF them, filling drunkard's
gravel They were all taught to be-
lievc that moderate drinking was
safe excess alone ought to be avoid
cd and they never acknowledged
excess. They quoted you, and you,
and you, tpointing with her shred OF
finger to the priest, the deacon and
the physician) as authority. They
thought themselves safe under such
teachers. But saw the gradual
change coming over my family aud
prospects with dismay and horror
felt we were all TO DO overwhelmed
In one common ruin. Itried TO ward
of the blow; tried to break the
spcll-thc delusive spcll-in which
drinking had involved my husband
and sons. begged, prayed; but
the odds were greatly against me.
The priest said the poison that was
destroying my husband and boys was
N good creature of God the deacon
(who sits there under the pulpit and
who took our farm TO pay the rum
bills) sold them the poison the ply
sician said that little was good, and
excess ought to be avoided. My poor
husband and my dear boys fell into
the snare, and, one after another,
were conveyed TO the dishonorcd
grnvo ofthe drunkard. Now look at
me again. You probably see me for
the last time; my sands arc almost
run. l have dragged my exhausted
frame from my present nbodc--your
poor housc-to warn you all; 10
warn you, deacon! TO warn you,
false teacher of Gods word" and
with her arins high flung and her tall
form stretched TO its utmost, and her
voice raised to an npcarthly pitch.
she exclaimed, Il shall stnnd before
the judgment seat Of God; shall
meet you there, yc false guides, and
DO swift witness against you nll.n
Tho miserable female vanished .
dead silence pcrvndcd the assc,nbly;
the priest, deacon and PHI, sician hung
their heads. Tho president Of the
mseiing put the question:, ''Shaiiz we
! have any more license 70 sell nico-
hulIc poisous, to bc drank as bev-