Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-16

rection, Road to destruction ~ Conn
mingle with the vaperous fumes which
greet every passer-by the glittering
warning, Breath of perdition ~ On
every barrel and keg gindestructibly chis-
ell the lamentable fact, "Thrice>distilled
damnation ~ Blow in crimson letters
upon every bottle the deplorable admis
sioE, "Ineviiable ruin W In the bottom
of every glass impress in fadeless ci-
pliers the ultimate result, "Pauperism
and death " Grinningly tattoo every
window pane In the pestilential estab-
lishment with its hoard of daily wit
messed aud direfuI consequences. Ine-
briate, as the steaming beverage gurgles
down your glazed throat, do you think
of that cruelty beaten wife, the degra-
dation of your daughter, the depriva-
tion of your son? Do you not know,
or knowing, do you not care, that every
drop of liquor you swallow is but an
other dagger which pierces all the
hearts that compose once beloved
family? An unrelenting hand which
greedily snatches the last morsel of stale
bread from the very mouths of your in
.nocent and suffering ones. At the
same time that same drop Is but anoth-
er thong which binds you tighter to
hooks of steel, to be governed, tortured,
and burned at the pleasure of his Sa-
tanic majesty. Each saloon has its
own secret back doors, through which
the timid tippler can quietly enter, pro.
cure his favOrite stiinufant and leave
unObserved. Even private room is
arranged for that especial purpose.
Every demand of the imbiber Is ap-
peased, every requirement. provided,
every passion gratified, Constant in
diligence soon becomes apparent and
condemning guilt is brought to light.
Ere long the aroused appetite calls for
more and repeated drinks, the spotless
morals become corrupt, the enviable
intellect gets clouded, fanciful visions
float before the stimulated imagination,
the even walk grows awkward, and
some night you will find that youthful
drinker in filthy street gutter. In
order that but few may know of his
vicious habits and sudden downfall, he
is cautiously taken up and carried
home. God help the family to bear
this unsupported and unforewarned
blow, assuage the stinging grief, this
lasting stain will cause! We gently
draw veil over the heart rending
scene of q family collected around the
bedside Of drunken inmate. Shame
do her work whether in private or
public, and quickly that household is
marvelously changed. The father is
care worn, the mothers locks rapidly
whiten, the sisters shun society. the
brothers discard invitations of pleasure,
and soon death finds them signing for
his presence to end their modification
and suffering All these heart burn
iDgs caused by the way wardness of a
promising son, moderate tippler, a
confirmed drunkard, a debauched gam
bier. Drink can crush out more hsppi-
ness in one moment than can be eXpe
rienced in life time The habit
once thoroughly acquired, man is be-
yond the power of human redemption
All the evils in the endless catalogue of
black, augnsnted crime are but the de-
velored ouIgrowth of Intemperauce
Even boys with an unnurtured desire
TO taste, may he watching a chance 10
sneak in those haunts of iniquity, in the
shadow of some Older person They see
how those who call themselves men
drink, carouse, aud swear, end those
boys go away with the purging and last
ing resolve To follow in their fnut-steps !;
quieting unseafed conscience by plead
Z,
drink, play cards use strong ex pletives,
vaunt gross epithets, carry pistols, get
in,o rows, create disturbances, and do
as others do, that they will be accounted
towards, be laughed at, scnrned, de
rided, and be looked upon, with dis
dain by ALL How egregiously false
such an assumption, how fatally ruin
Gus such a course. That impression is
no sooner formed than with q heroic
bound it tsprings into life, and with un-
yielding and persistent entreaties sue
ceeds in obtaining the persuaded
youths to take one drink strongly ar
guing that it is perfectly harmless,
strictly invigorating. health demand
ing and courage inspiring necessity
They gradually yield, and that evil
voice having once gained credence and
victory. implan.s new desires and I'M
dauntedly urges them onward and
downward, and which at last eliminates
in their hopeless ruin! Though some
remarkable event may convince them
of their gross tendencies and frightful
destiny, aud fain would they retrace
their hasty steps, but Satan having Sc
cured the mastery, uses some new de-
vice and strategy, shows them how far
they have gone and, mocks them with
defeat if they do not continue. Goad
ing them with vauuting accusations for
attempting. to regain their former posi-
tion and chastity, and in order to hush
his vile upbraidings, to satisfy their
clamoring cravings, and to crush out
the chidings of their better nature, as
its death struggles grow fainter and
fainter, they gladly sink deeper and
deeper in the bottomless, sibilant cal
dron of pollution. What is the ulti-
mate result of this continuation, what
the. final consequences of dissipation
Did you ever see lunatic asylum, q
Jail, a penitentiary, q charitable institu
ton, house of refuge, pauper's Gem
etery? Investigate why they are full
to repleliOn; ask the inmates why there,
and see If the only answer in every in
stance is not DRINK. Oh, if we could
marshal all those frenZied, accused,
sentenced, and helpless souls in one solid
phalanx TO testify against the demon
Rum! Oh, if the dead in that metropolis
could only arise and speak, the earth
would he shocked and humanity stand
abashed by their amazing revelations,
and those CHASTITY SIX keletons in one alarm
ing and laundering chorus would pro-
claim drink! drink drink and the
tiny echoes would softly re answer in
sepulchral tones, drink! drink drink !!
Wild d ssipatiOn may be sweet, but a
drunkard's grave is uninviting. Would
that in his titful slumbers the bloated
and consequential rum seller could see
the tattered and bleeding forms of the
kindred to whom he dwelt out the ac-
cursed liquor, and as they clutch and
clamor at his covering and cringing
body, like resurrected felons, drag
him with themselves down the dark
and steep declivity to their, sbode-the
final and eternal home of those heed
less, madened, and brutal monsters
For one moment uncap that kissing
whirlpool of pollution and let him be-
hold its inmates its internal and Internal
horrors, to which he will eventually be
consigned to keep company with his
former victims and customers. He may
seek their patronage here, but he will
sbhor their company there. He may
boast of his independence and superb
ority, and revel in luxury here, but
Gods just maledictions will sooner or
later overtake him, deprive him ofall his
muItiplied tenn moral inpatherings and