The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-11-23
HUMAN RUINS.
Drawn True to Experience in Human Lite.

| ing WIFI great Care dld pdtlSilCC, OtiI-
ers chosing whatever is most pleasing
to the eye for the moment, not taking
into consideration the real worth and
durability of the article, not realizing
that whatever is put into these human
houses of ours can never be removed
or replaced by better article.
In building a house the workmen
are always careful to have a good
foundation. If the foundation is in
secure, or the material is rotten the
builders may labor all they will, they
may expend all the money they like,
but the building will soon become a
ruin.
AS in building the foundation is
of chiefest importance, so in these
human houses of ours the foundation
of our actions and designs is what de-
termines our lives for good or evil.
If we build upon integrity, honor and
truth we will have building that will
withstand the storms of time. But if
our honor is only seeming, if our in
tegrity is mere outward show and if at
heart we are scheming, treacherous
and dishonest, we will soon become a
human ruin.
AS an insecure corner stone has
caused the ruin OF the finest buildings,
so the giving way of principle that
was not firmly enough fixed has
wrought many a human ruin. Per
haps every individual has some weak
point, some besetting sin. 1t is there
fore necessary this point be most care
fully guarded. Our principles should
be founded upon reason and truth,
and never be departed from unless
firmly convinced by some stronger ar
gument. Every departure from prin-
ciple renders us more susceptible to
temptation. Every yielding on our
part weakens the strength of principle;
| and if continued will overcome it alto
gether. 1t is much easier for the up
right man to be honest than the hab-
itual thief; easier for the truthful man
| to speak the truth under all circum-
stances than the habitual liar; and
every indulgence in any sin makes it
harder to overcome While the causes
of human sins are very many, there
has been more ruin wrought by intem-
perance than anything else. Drink
has ruined many of the brightest in
| tellects of our land 1t has seized with
an awful grip delicate organizations
and finely strung systems; it has gone
into every profession and every grade
of life and left destruction in its tracks;
it has ruined fathers, disabled moth
ers and killed children; it has peopled
the insane asylums, the poor houses,
the prisons and the gallows. Drink
has cost our country more than all the
wars that have devastated our land;
it has caused more sorrow, ruined
more lives and cost more money than
any other type of crime.
How often we have seen the very
brightest boy of our class, the one
most favored by fortune and with the
promise of the most brilliant career
fall before the demon intemperance.
He loved the social glass, he loved to
mingle in the crowds around the saloon
and ''have a good time" He was not
afraid of the drunkard's fate. Perhaps
he scoffed at kindly friends who
warned him of coming ruin. Harm
in wine? Why, his mother had it on
the table every day; his father drank it;
his sisters daintily slipped it and offered
it to their guests; wine never hurt him
no fear but he could restrain his appe-
tite; besides there was nothing like
wine to fire the brain; 1t made him
eloquent; words came to his lips like
magic and won for him applause and
honor; but the time came when it was
not SO; the thirst grew stronger; ii
could no longer be set aside at will
the intellect became dulled; he lost
his popularity; woman grew to shun
him; his clothes became shabby and
his credit poor; his eyes no longer
kindled with the fire of eloquence, but
were dull and red and his friends fel
away from him like leaves before the
autumn frost; as he fell he gained
more and more momentum; and the
| and of u,hot -, iolt b,yo haap , orou,r,