The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24
Tempt Not the Weak.

FLAMES Dunton, arrested fop drunk
enness and disorderly conduct. Fined
five dollars. In default of payment,
sent to Jail for thirty days
This item in the morning paper met
my eye, and read it again, for the
name seemed familiar. Could it be pos
sible that this was my old school-mate?
And my mind turned back to the time
when James stood among the brightest
of his class. True, he was little wild,
and soon after leaving school he COM
menced drinking, and would OCCASION
ally become intoxicated Then he Joined
Temperance organization, and
seemed SO deeply in earnest that had
really thought him safe from all further
temptation.
Such was the condition of things
when moved to distant city in the
far West l had been absent for ten
years, and was now on a visit to the old
home. had heard nothing of James
Dunton during my absence, and sup
posed him still working in the Temper
ance ranks =
Could it be possible that this was the
same man? On inquiry, found it to
be true. James Dunton had become
victim of intemperance, after abstaining
for three years. He had not simply
gone back to his old way, but he had
fallen far below, until the chances of
his ever reforming seemed almost hope
less. l called on him, and learned the
story of his fall:
81 had tasted no kind of liquor for
more than three years, and had con-
quered the old habit so far that it had
little or no temptation for me. One
evening l attended party celebrating
the birthday of a lady friend. Wine
and other liquors were used quite freely.
| had twice refused to drink, when the
hostess approached and offered me
glass of wine. begged her to excuse
me from accepting it, but she an
swered somewhat petulantly:
"'I should think you might drink
once with me, in honor of this occasion
"As l said something about the prin-
ciple involved, and the possibility of
single glass leading to further indul-
gence, she retorted, rather sneeringly:
$50! beg your pardon. had sup
posed that Mr. Dunton was man
enough to drink a harmless glass of
wine without fear of becoming drunk
ard '' "''
"This stab'at my pride, in the pres
ence of others who had no scruples
about taking an occasional glass, had
its effect, and with some light remark
in reference to the excuse / had been
making, took the wine and quickly
drank IL. This led to another. and then
another, for wished to show the lady
that [ had sufficient manhood to drink
several glasses of wine, if chose The,
result was, was carried home reastly
drunk. after that night all the old
cravings came bac ten-fold. tried to.
fight against it, but it seemed of no use.
My courage all forsook me, and Be-,
came 'reck ess. In my false attempt to,
sustain my manhood had lost all l
feel now that my fate is fixed, and
there is no help for it. The sooner that
the end comes the better for all con-
cerned."
1 tried to encourage him to hope for
better things, but he would not listen.
AS went away / thought of the WON
derful influence of woman, and how
sad that it should ever be put. to such
bad use-that it should be used to lead
men downward, when it might do so
much toward lifting them up. The loss;
of manhood through life, and of a soul
through eternity, are too weighty mat
tiers to be trifled away c.. L. Hill, int
Morning and Day Of reform.
CARDINAL MANNING estimates that
the drink traffic costs Great Britain an,
N,tr LIN