West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-12-16

father, or perchance beloved son
and brother mas been snatched by
the demon Drink. How frequent.
ly is recorded the sad fate of a
neighbours daughter who went out
from her home happy bride and
has returned at last, a broken
hearted and sorrow bowed woman,
to escape the violence of a drunken
husband! The paper is forgotten,
but the circumstances live, and,
II told you co." II knew how it
would turn out" and "She might
have known better" are passing
from lip to lip, while some, possibly
more thoughtful than others, are
mentally asking: "Why was it?"
"Was there no way to help it?"
"Will there never be an end to
such things?" The thinking
mother will turn instinctively to
something which may help to
solve these questions. If there be
a Temperance column in her paper,
she will think of something that
she has read there. She may be
led to reflect, perhaps, a that after
all, the homemade wine might as
we'll be dispensed with; that
possibly, the delicate child needs
nourishing food and fresh air more
than stimulants; that perhaps the
result of a snake bite, even, is less
to be dreaded than the inevitable
whisky bottle in the cupboard.
My dear sisters, it is to induce
people to think and act that we
have become an organization. How
can we better do this than by
presenting through the columns of
our papers such items of interest
or information upon the subject of
Temperance, as will be sure to at
tract the attention of every reader.
After receiving the appointment
to the superintendency of Press
Work, began to ask the same
questions that you are now asking,
What am [ to do, and just how
am to do?" what is involved
in this position lis there real
ly something to be done, or is it a
merely nominal Officer" My ques-
tions on this point were soon
answered and | can now testify
that there is no end to the work
that our energetic State President
will put upon those who will
work. AS some of you are
aware, l began by writing
to the president of each local I'm
ion, or to some person in the I'm
ion whose name I happened to
know. requested that Superin-
tendent of Press Work might be
elected for the local Union. This
being done, what next? 1t appears
to me that just here more than in
any other department of our work,
We are made to feel our dependence
upon the cooperation of our breth-
rem. Nor could we admit the gen.
uineness of a success in any cause,
were it to be achieved without the
aid of those who are to even a great,
er extent than ourselves interested
in it. How then, can we secure
the aid of our brethren of the
Press? The local Superintendent
of this Department will appreciate
the Importance of tact. Are there
several editors in town? She will
at once select the wife of a promi-
nent Democrat to present the mat.
ter to the Democratic editor. Is
there a Republican editor? Then
send Republican woman to talk
over the matter with him. Is
there an Independent paper? Let
the lady who is on the best terms
with the editors family influence
him, Is the editor a bachelor?
But l need not suggest further, for
l am addressing women.
Having secured the consent of
the editors, we now address our
selves to the preparation of the
weekly columns of the W. G. 7. U.
Department. Do you say, 81 can
never do it," My good sister,
please take that back, for we do not
know what we can do till we try.
Surely the women of the w. G.. r.