The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-27
Educate.

This was the only remedy that the
reformers in Britain, who wanted to
introduce free and extended suffrage,
could devise for making the people
wise enough to know what was good
for them and the same thing is true
with regard to the abolition of. the
liquor traffic. Not only are general
education and intelligence necessary
to carry such information, but so Is
special instruction concerning the
nature of intoxicating drinks and
their effects on the human body and
on society To effect any reform OF
this kind il is necessary to gain the
parents, that they may train their
children Alright, and it is necessary
to train the children that they may
become In turn wise parents of fu-
ture generation. 1t is a great pity
that majority of the present pa
rents are too ignorant aud prejudic-
ed on the subject of strong drink TO
set good example before their
children, or to teach them Alright,
but it is pleasant to know that a
strong minority, and in some States
a majority, of the grown people have
been gained over to right views on
the temperance question. 1t has Ia
ken a vast amount of leeturing and
preaching and printing and cireula-
ting of temperance truths to obtain
this already great result; and now
the way is opening up to teach all
the children in the public schools,
the true character of alcohol and Its
effects on the human body This Is
unassailable scientific truth, and no
one, whatever may be his own taste
of drink, could surely object to his
children being enlightened on such
a momentous subject. Then again,
children receive the truth much
more readily than grown persons,
who have formed prejudices and
habits that they are 10th to give up,
and what a child is taught In youth
he or she rarely forgets in after life.
All these considerations concur IN
showing the extreme importance OF
getting a lesson book into the pub
lie schools on the scientific aspects
of the temperance question, to be
studied at least one hour a week
and happily such a book has been
prepared by physician who stands
in the very first rank of medical men
for scientific attainments. an author
ity whom no one will attempt to
dispute on chemical physiological
questions. This very eminent phy-
sician is DR.. Richardson, of London,
and his temperance lesson book
which has been published in Great
Britain, and republished in the
United States. has been introduced
already into schools to some cOnsid-
cradle extent in both countries. Also
a work edited by Miss Julia Cole
man, which is eminently practical
and well adapted to the common
schools in the country. 1t is our
hope that parents, whatever some OF
them may do about drinking them
selves, may all be willing TO have
their children taught in plain Ian
guage those immutable scientific
truths which will set them free from
the bondage of intoxicating drinks,
and lessen the number of victims OF
the scourge which has so long and
so deeply afflicted and injured sOci-
ETY.. Sound instruction with regard
to the use of intoxicants has carried
many young persons safely over all
the temptations of youth and ques-
tionable companions. The boy so
instructed won't drink, and those
who will drink, after trying in vain
to induce him to drink with them,
will steer clear of him. His temper
ance principles will thus save him
from all bad COMPANY.