The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-20
w. G. t. U.
Conducted by Members of the Portland UniOn.l


The eminent physician DIR. B. w. Richard
son OF London, ono of the strongest advocates
for temperance in his profession, whose temper
anee text books have been extensively intro
duced in the schools, both of this country and
Great Britain, gives the following interesting
account of his conversion from anti-tempel-
ance to total abstinence:
Between II and is years ago, while epgae-
ed in some experimental physiological re-
searches, began for the first time in my life
to doubt the common accented yalue and pby :
siological position of alcohol. Before that time
l had passed in review the works of more than
one learned and earnest. medical. scholar on the
subject. The late excellent surgeon and ex-
cellent man, Mr.. Higginbottom, had appealed
TO me through his works The distinguished
professor OF surgery in Edinburgh, the late
Proi. Miller, our no less distinguished Dr.
Oneyne, OF Dublin, and one other not less
eminent in this city, still living, DIR. w. b.
Carpenter, had in like measure appealed to
me and the whole reading world ON this sub
lect. knew the works of these writers we'll,
and also the works of many illustrious men
who had tiourished before this generation alto
gether, but was not influenced by any of their
appeals beyond entertaining for them a feeling
OF sincere respect. am happy now to re-
member that, knowing how solemnly right
they were and how foolishly l was wrong L did
at all events give them respect, and did not in
my ignorance rave at them as fanatics, nor
count them as having forsaken their calling
because they were bold enough to declare the
truth as II was revealed to them through the
investigation of nature. In short, their argu-
ments were not such as conveyed conviction
at that time to my mind, and 1t was not until
certain physiological facts which contradicted
IN the --LATEST manner my preconceiyed be-
hefs were unanswerably before me, that be-
gan TO doubt on the one hand and inquire anew
on the other
~ course of time l came to certain conclu-
SONS, which were embodied in paper on the
Physiological action of the alcohols, and which
ran counter TO much that was accepted. But
this conversion SO far toward the truth OF total
abstinence as the best policy for all men, did
not influence me in relation TO habit and mode
OF NE. AT last, about 1869, began to abstain
~ intervals for experimental purposes, and
finding myself in many ways benefited during
the periods OF abstinence. / determined to alb
stain more Systematically, and If possible, al
together. The one great obstacle to success
which SO many men feel, and which, to weak
minded men, is often permanent obstacle
was now the social difficulty OF abstinence.
what should do in society, what should be
done at my own table and at the table of my
friends? l strove to meet this difficulty by act
ing on a hint from Sir Walter Raleigh, that
Wine should only be used for purposes of recre-
alton, and that this anciently was its use. so
aostslned on all occasions. except at the feast
The practice led to another new and unanswer-
able experience, viz: That however temperate
l might be, was always less healthy after the
feast and far less disposed to return to the con-
ditlon OF health that was invariably connected
with the period of total abstinence In the
lace OF this obsel walton, repeated over and
over again, determined, at last, to abstain alb
solutely. These are the plain and light of day
facts as to the reason of my adhesion to the
cause of total abstinence from alcohol: and
having derived benefit, both in knowledge and
health, by that change, have felt it duty to
teach the truth by precept as we'll as by exam
pie, and to show on what just and reasonable
grounds the truth is based. This duty, or
once leisure hours and so-called hours of euioy-
ment to the laborious task of teaching the
truth publicly.
Scientific Temperance instruction is rapidly
winning It's way. 1t is now no vain chimera
the hope of influencing the personal habits Of
the millions of persons who are to be the law
makers ana voters OF our country by creating
through the schools an intelligent, universal
and controlling conviction against alcoholic
drinks.-[U Union Signal.
A prominent member Of the prison commit
tee OF iowa in Siberia who had personally
examined over ten thousand exiles, said TO a
traveller In that country that drunkenness was
directly or indirectly the cause of the CHIMES
OF half the whole number sent to Siberia and
these were found to be the worst prisoners and
the most troublesome.
The Queen of Madagascar's decree against
the importation and sale of brandy is TO be
enforced by penalty somewhat seyerer than
any known In this country attached to license
laws, namely, line of $40 and ten good oxen.
A Georgian editor says: "Gold is found in
tnlrty-three counties in this State, silver in
three, copper in thirteen, lion in forty three,
diamonds in twenty-six, whisky in all of them;
and the last gets aWay with all the rest ,,