Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-12-18
COMMUNICATED.

Messrs. Editors.-I have always
thought that the mission Of county
paper was to aim at the improvement of
its neighborhood, and have always con-
sidered your excellent sheet one Of the
most conservative. truthful and enthu-
sistic supporters of that idea. Hence my
establishment at reading an article in
your last weeks issue, stating that on
the previous Saturday night the writer
"counted twenty-eight young men OF
Shepherdstown drunk or very much
under the influence of liquor" and also
asserts that drunkenness has prevailed
to an alarming extent" in our law.abid-
ing little town. When the old burg is
ordinarily so quiet that, with the ex-
ception of an occasional dog fight,
niger minstrel troupe, or some such
occurrence, there is rarely ripple on
her tranquil bosom. This is lovely (D
article to spread broadcast over the
State-nice 81 morsel, indeed, for those
to read who contemplate making our
town their home, or to send their sons
and daughters here TO receive All educa-
ton. Even granting that we have de-
f1ected slightly from the path OF the
most rigid rectitude, let him that is
without sin cast the first stone. Even
if his statements were true, what is the
use of publishing them? But in point
of facts they are not all true. No, the
trouble with good many people is they
are all for self, and when they see
young man leaning the wrong way, in
stead Of giving him word OF encour-
agement and try to straighten him up,
they will give him push and get him
down as far as possible. So my advice
to the twenty-eight, especially those of
a weak, nervous temperament, and have
not the will power to keep from being
drunkard, is to take al! the necessary
precaution in the near future and look
not upon the wine when it is red, for,
if there is anything despise to see, it is
young man when drunk.
The writer of this article was on the
street until II O'Clock, and did see four
men who might be possibly called
drunk, and two of these were strangers.
Did also see some more POSSIBLY enough
to make up the noble % or more) who
had evidently taken wee drop, but
few of those were strangers, and the
surrounding country helped cOnsidera-
bly, to make up the required number,
and, moreover, they were not drunk
nor are they in the habit of drinking.
l know whereof / speak, and can
prove that great majority of them do
not drink one-tenth as much as some OF
the very croakers who are capable OF
writing such an article as the one refer
red to. And as to the other charge that
drinking is on the increase" here he
could not have penned an article that
point of facts the bar-rooms have never
done as poor a business as they are now
doing, or have done for the past year.
There Is not a dealer in the town who
can afford to hire an assistant. have
no patience with any who will utter
such calumny, and | hope all such arti-
Giles will be frowned down by you,
Messrs. Editors, before they get into
print, whereby their pcrnicious work
will be stopped before they can do harm.
There was a young lady of neighbour
ing town asked Il gentleman Of our town
elf he WAS included in the %, "and said
she was surprised to read that drinking
had prevailed to such an alarming ex-
tent in Shepherdstown amongst the
young men, and if such was the case
they were out-sumbering the young
men of her town. Now, you see it left
that lady under false impression, and
every other stranger that read the arti-
Gle referred to. | without hesitation
put myself on record rs being most
fully in accord with those who are OPP
posed to the abuse of alcoholic spirits.
1 was actuated by the highest feelings
aud respect have for the young NEIL
of Shepherdstown and community as
we'll as for the advancement and i'm
provement of our town. In saying this
| do so as one who has paTtaken Of a
social glass, and don't go behind the
returns or a screen to do it.
VINDICAToR.