Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-22

could 20 without our glasses (the writer
does net drink . gallon . year. to give
them taste Of peace but they would
soon be raging again with some new
frenzy. What hapless credulity that
of men deceiving themselves with ideas
of their own projections Really it
looks like SHINING to be thinking Of the
possibility Of mans goodness. We are
here to taste sin and death, and would
rather be q sot without consciousness of
its indecency than assume the air and
manner Of ssnctity when could not
be unconscious Of my depravity.
The vast dissimilarity between men
is more apparent than real. Christ
called us brothers.) You may not
drink, but l need not ask you to tell me
your vices, for if you have but one 1t
will likely prove to be enormous. Let
us take heed lest we deceive ourselves
while challenging the faults of others.
! have loved friends so dearly that I
could not see their faults, if they had
any, and did not want to, and | think
the world and all Of them but somehow
or other know they are not perfect,
and yet / never dreamed Of its being
my duty or a practical work for me to
reform them ; and would think it
heartless indeed to snatch from them
their cheerful and inspiring glass which
| have never known them to abuse.
And for myself, ] cannot see how [ can
be said to offend society or my Maker
by taking occasionally good old,iash-
toned mint. julep of London Dock brandy
that rarely ever see nowadays.
Many years ago | witnessed one Of
these temperance tornadoes. 1t was
in the year Il think Of 1s33--fifty-
three years ago. Every grog.shop
NOW called restaurantsl was swept
away, as it were, for the want Of GUS
tomers-for no such work as that
now on hand, to apply the force Of
law, was thought of in those days.
The good old social spirits that
loved their neighbors as themselves,
and that would as soon take a dose
Of strychnine as take drink with
out having a friend to join them,
were about driven to the wall. There
was one of these happy souls,
nobleman by nature, that was
very popular and had been sheriff
of the county. His brother was
an eminent lawyer and president Of the
bank, and, though he was greatly be-
loved and respected, his brother dob"
the sheriff, was far more popular. But
the temperance tide had swept from
around him many Of his bosom friends.
They were going it dry for awhile, and
the poor, convivial nobleman grew sad,
as if judgment had overtaken him.
About that time the circus came along,
and it had a charming singer, lady
with voice so clear and shrill that
over the hills of the little town Of Dan
vile itrang so sweetly that every ear was
opened and every soul delighted; bond
and free, rich and poor. Christian and
wording all united in praises of the won-
derful singer and all went to hear her.
Even the temperance clergy and peo-
pie went to be entertained at an
innocent circus in those days, Ii
quor or DO liquor. All, we were a
happy people then. | was a boy about
sixteen years Of age, and have never
been as happy since, and 70 v in my old
age | wish these local-optionists would
let me die in peace. Well, about my Vir-
ginia sheriff nobleman: One afternoon
be gathered together some few Of his
friends and resorted to the cir
Gus to allay his griefs over the
wreck Of his social fortunes. There
he was seated under the canvas, with
friends on either side, quafling the wit
ticisms Of the clown as scintillations OF
The merriment of his own happy clubs,
now flown. At length the greet lady.
singer came forward, and amor 6 other
songs she sang one that lifted poor
bob above all earthly troubles, and
again and again be and his comrades
clapped and huzzaed and called for it
over and over. as il it were the return
of the prodigal son. | wish | could
remember the song, but the chorus
was
"We1l take our drinks In all thelr varieties.
And won't care a.hg for the temperance
societies.
Sing hs. sing no. in the good old days of
Adam and Eve"
G..