Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-19
Teach the Children.

Teach the Children.
There is, probably, no hallucination
SO obstinate as that which attributes to
alcoholic drink d ceftain virtue which
it never possessed. After all the intiu-
ences Of the pulpit and the press, after
all the warning examples of drunken
ness and consequent destruction, after
all the testimony Of science and e&pe-
%rience,- there fingers in the average
mind an impression that therei is some
thing good in alcohol even for the
healthy man. Boys and young men do
not shun the wine-cup us a poisoner OF
blood and thought, and the most dam
gerous drug that theycan possibly ham
dle; but they have an idea that the
temperance man is a fogy, or foe to a
free, social life, whose practices are as
celtic, and whose warnings are to be
laughed at and disregarded. Now in
alcohol; in its various forms, we have d
foe to the human race SO subtle. and so
powetful that It destroys human beings
by the million, vitiates all the processes
Of those who indulge in it, degrades
morals, induces pauperism and crime
in the superlative degree when COM
pared with other causes, and corrupts
the homes of millions.
1t is a cruel thing to send a boy out
into the worl untaught that alcohol in
any form is fire, and will certainly burn
him if he puts it in his stomach. 1t is
d cruel thing to educate a boy in such
u way that he has 10 adequate idea OF
the dangers that beset his path. 1t is
! mean thing to setid d boy out to take
MS place in society without understand
ing the relations Of temperance I'd his
own safety and prosperity, and I'd the
safety and prosperity Of society.
What we want in. our. schools is to do
away with the force of pernicious ex-
ample; and a long-cherished error, by
making the children thoroughly ihteli'-
gent on this subject of alcohol. They
should lie taught the natural effect OF
llcohol upon the processes Of animal
life. ~ They should be taught that
it can add nothing whatever to the viz
tai TISSUES, that he never enters into the
elements OF structure, and that, in the
healthy organism, it is always d burden
or disturbing force; az They should
he taught that it invariably disturbs
the operation of the brain, and the mind
can get nothing from alcohol of help
that is to be relied upon. 49, They
should be taught that alcohol in1ames
the baser passions, bluhts the sens
Utilities, and debases the feelings. a.
They should be taught that an appetite
for drink is certainly developed by
those who use it, which is, dangerous
to life, destructive of health Of body
an peace Of mind, and in millions OF
instances riilnous to fortune and to all
the nigh interests Of the soul. Is,
They should be taught that crime and
pauperism Of society flow as naturally
from alcohol as any effect whatever
naturally flows from its competent
cause. W) They, should be taught
that drink is the responsible cause OF
most.of the poverty and want Of the
world.
RE national wealth, goes into the
ground. If we could only manage to
bury it: without having it pass thither'
ward in the form ct j poisonous fluid
through the intlamed bodies of oul
neighbcrs and friends, happy should
be. But this great, anominable curse
dominates the world, The tramp re-
minds us Of 1t as he hegs for Il nights
lodging. The widow and the fatherless
tell us OF. it as they. ask tor bread. Il
scowls upon Us from the novels and
haunts 1T the poor everywhere. Even
the clean, hard WORKING man. Of pros
perity cannot enjoy his earnings be
.cause the world is full OF. misery from
drink. The more. thoroughly we can in
struct the young concerning. this do1ni
mating evil OF our time the better will
it be fol. them and for the world.
Or. J. G. HOLLAND.
DAKOTA.
A.Dreary Barren waste. not Fit 70,
the ,Habitat,on Of Civilized Beings,