Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-27
SwEETwATER sIPPIN Gs.
A Temperance Lecture and a Sermon q
Home Training.


Sweetwater, September M.-When
you think 1t all over and review IL
several times, you come TO the conclu-
sion that there is an everlasting
amount of drinking going on in the
world. Immense fortunes are annu-
ally squandered, homes beyond num-
bering are ruthlessly demolished.
bright and happy hearts are crushed
and made miserable, and all because
we have contracted thirst for strong
drink. We have known beautiful and
promising young ladies to marry what
they supposed were temperate Young
men, whose future, to all appearances
was as bright as heart could wish. but
they yielded to the seductive influence
of the eXhilarating cup, and from that
moment their career was marked by a
downward tendency. Ere long The
little furniture they had economical
to secure must be sold to gratify an
unquenchable thirst. and finally the
police reports are illuminated with the
wrong doing of this wreck of human
1ty. Of course the poor wife is the
greater sufferer, and she will endure
uncomplainingly for long time,
hoping for reformation which never
comes, and as last resort seeks relief
in u divorce. Now this familiar
chapter spread broadcast over this
great nation, as any observing man or
woman well knows. Much of this
dark picture is contracted through the
mistaken idea of hospitality. When
friends meet, custom, in some localities,
suggests that they take drink to-
gether, and not every man exercises
any sense as to when TO cease drink
ing. In some parts of the country it
would be an insult to ask some men
to take a drink, and this construction
ought to be universal, but it is not
and so we must deal with the evil as
it exists. 1t is melancholy spectacle
to see a promising young man so
down step by step in this
great whirlpool of destruction, but
sadder still to see him draw innocent
and devoted friends into troubles of
his own contracting. Who, until his
sensibilities are all destroyed, would
deliberately bring trouble upon his
dear old mother or his devoted and
loving wife?
Strong drink will cause a man to for
sake his mother, wife and children,
and bring down upon them ruin in its
worst form, and sting them with last
ing disgrace. The tender appeals of II
loving wife have long since lost their
effect, the pleadings of his children dc
not seem TO elicit II reply, much less u
smile, as he totters away to where dam
| nation is dealt out to him. There are
known instances where he whose duty
| it was to provide for the family ,allo we'd
them to starve, while he spent the last
nickel for his greatest enemy. Under
| this state Of things is it any wonder
| that there should be few people ad'
vocates of temperance? The greater
wonder is that there should be one sol
itary man who would champion the
other side of the question. 1t is hardly
presumahle that the man who sells de
struction can form any correct esti-
mate of the damage he does to society
even if he were inclined.
1t is a known fact, however, that 9
| very large percentage of the murders
! committed, is an outgrowth OF dissipa
ton. Our prisons are full of men to
day who would tell you they were
| brought there through king alcohol
| The whole country is taxed, anc
| heavily too, for force of police TO do
! picket duty around these liquor revel
| ers, so that those who do not enter
these dens of temptation may be per
mitted to live and pursue honest avoca
tons. earning, by industry, their daily
bread. Surely there must come q
reckoning and a better state Of things
one of these days.
Amlusements, questionable or other.
wise, are sought after by the average
citizen, be he old or young. OF course
the young have a decided advantage
in the race after pleasure, rs they pos
sess a keener relish in this direction
things that would not attract IN ma
ture years seem to the young an i'm
mense panorama OF good Things
Pleasure double discounts trouble IL
it's most attractive attire it causes thu
heart to cease aching, accelerates thu
circulation and regulates the interna
economy generally. The stomach Is
more ready to perform its functions
while tbs liver is in position to del.
arrest. Hence it is, that we are all IL
pursuit of this golden egg, called pleas
ure. The paths are many, therefor'
there is room for all, because there !
no end to the variety of entertain
ments. Some acquire relish 10
snorts in a given direction, while othe
DlITlDcIS Ol tIlS SuiiiS hpuoci'iu ''''.
diverge into paths leading directly op
posite. What may be regarded as fun
for one may be torture for bis mex
door neighbor. II is a mistaken ide
to permit our children to go ava,
from the home roof for amusement
for of all places home should be mad
the most attractive. The recollection
of home 20 with us through life, ant
are as fresh at the end rs at the begin
ming: therefore, il behooves all I
paint happy pictures III the morning
so that pleasure may be had as w
view the panorama in the evening c
our davs. Care should be exercise,
to discover just what kind OF amus'
ments are the most profitable for on
children. and if ii be not positively ol
iectionable, they should be encourage
according to their individual tastes
Parents are the custodians of the hal
piness of their children to a greater
less degree, and can make life for thel
a positive luxury, if they are SO II
clined, and there should be no dipl'
macy used in any other direction,
The old theory that birch rod VIZ
the only panacca for children's di
eoses has been exploded these man