The Osceola times., 1882-08-26
sober Thoughts for sober
Men.

20 90 over the years that preceded
the year 1881, as they are matter
OF record and history) One year
ago, then, with deep conviction,
born OF years Of sad experience, the
editor o: this paper, assisted by the
noble, self-sacrilicing splits who
lent their pomer Of pen and tongue,
feeling proud Of the progress made
in the cause Of Temperance, re
doubled his energies in its advocacy,
and as a result, the three mile or To-
cal option law became fixed fact.
On the first OF January, 1882, when
the saloons were closed, all seemed
to feel that a new era had begun;
that a great change had come over
the spiritual and moral atmosphere
of Osceola, and all seemed to rejoice
with much rejoicing, save a few, who,
like Othcllo, found their favorltc oc-
cupation gone. An era of peace at
once set in; men who had been ac-
customcd to lounge around the sa-
looms and street corners, waiting for
an invitation to "takc something"
sobcrcd up. The bloated, swarthy
skin became clear and fresh, the
bloom Oh the nose faded, and the
blcar in the eyes was succeeded by
a bright, clear vision, loving wives
rcioiced, and the little children were
made glad and wondered at the
change. Merchants and men of bus!-
ness noted the change, and also re-
ioiccd, at was so much more pleas
ant to do business with sober men,
than with whisky brfuddled ones"
Bat, as if to try the faith that was
in them, there came a time when
business was dull; money, the root
of all evil, was scarce, the whole
country was rudarroing.a financial
depression, the monopolist+ and job
bcrs in utuie- had cornerrd ell the
marketable staples Of commerce and
were waiting iog The reaction. a
few began to fret and search for a
cause, but could not bring themselves
to look beyond the narrow confines
Of the three mile boundary line o.!
thc prohibition law; thcy began to
uureason all their former reasoning.
'If prohibiting men FROM making
fools Of themselves, and spending
their money freely is going to make
business dali, I'd rather have whisky
back again" "Thot's what the mat
ter" would say the little hloar eyed,
blos,omcd-noscd saloon clerk, "whcn
| sold whisky, after a customer come
in and got his drinks, ! allrrs told
him where 20 20 70 aud buy his gre
ccrics and dry goods, aud you bet
times were brisk then, but look at it
now, why ! can't get job of work
'ccpting I go on farm at *lj a
month and board"
On the other hand, those directly
Interested. and who had tasted the
cup Of misery and degradation to
the very drcgs, sohered up in the
very nick of time. The year 1891
is one long to be remembered, the
drought with its consequent short
crop left the farmers, who were al
ready bankrupt, in a still worse con-
dition The year 1882 was ushered
in with such food 40 had not been
witnessed in half a century; property
was swept away, stock drowned, and
the farmers, those Of small means,
were left in a pfecarious situation.
With the advent Of spring, as the
waters subsided, they We're again
balllcd, with all manner Of pests
eut-worms, buffalo gnals, late nip.
ping fro+ts, scarcity Of seed, and
everything that could rctard and hin
der. Did they fret and worry? Ne,
they, they were just licking the bit
ter at the bottom Of the cup. Their
heads were now clear, aud they had
faith in their hearts. While the few
werc erie,ing and frett;ng because
the saloons were not, they were so.
bcgly at work, content To- live on hall
rations of corn bread and sow-bclly
while thgirpoor mule, their only true
ficrd, was turned out Go grazo on
the cane. What rs Che rosu!t2 CO
whore you will all over Mississippi
caouty, magnificent crops Of ho.!
cam and cotton grects You oa every
In lIn,.r IN nsnnnln u..-.. No.