The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-28
The Drunkard's Mirror.


The above is the caption to an article
which we find published in the New Jersey
AdyOcdte and Mddlesex and Essex Adpertiser
of the date of February nth, 1924
There is no vice in the DEVILS catalogue so
disgusting to society and SO fatal to the in
diyidual who indulges in t,as that of dunk
enness. Sorry are we to add, but it is too
true and to notorious too be concealed, that
there is no vice more prevalent at the pre-
sent day. How is it, that with the increase
of societies for the suppression of intern
perance, snd societies for almost every other
professedly good object the number of
drunkards continues to increase also? Is
there not law of Massachusetts, which is
peremptory, directing the select men of
towns to post common tipplers, and forbid
all retailers selling them spirtuous liquors
and is not the law obligatory On the city au.
thorities of Boston? Why then is it not en-
forced? We think the board of health ought
to publish weekly list of all the "new
cases." for the benefit of the public. The
individual, who should do so, might be Gin
dicted for libel" +" but it would be act for
which he would be entitled to the eternal
gratitude of many parent, many wife and
mother. And such "Mirror' would do
more good than all the sermons that were
ever preached against drunkenness.
This subject has been forcibIy brought
home to our feelings at this time. A young
man was in our office this morning, (the son
Of on old friand aud aoonaiptopoa fron, +t,o
naueasting scent Of whose breath we are
hardly relieved by his absence. He had Just
taken his "glass of bitters, probably his
customary morning dram-for a single
| offence of this sort would not give him the
capacity thus to infect the atmosphere with
the pestiferous effiuvia Of his breath. For
his benefit, and that Of all others like him,
who may chance to see this paper, we pub
| lish the following reasons for drinking,
copied from the New York american, the
writer of which declares that he knows their
efficiency from IS I'd experience:
If you wish to be always thirsty, be a
drunkard, for the oftener and more you drink
the oftener and more thirsty you will be.
If you seek to prevent your friends from
raising you in the world, be drunkard, fol
that will defeat all their efforts.
II you would effectually counteract your
own attempt to do well, be drunkard, and
You will not be disappointed.
If you wish to ropel the endeavors of the
whole human race to raise you to character
credit and prosperity, be drunkard, ant
you will most assuredly triumph.
If you are determined to be poor, be
drunkard,you will soon be ragged and penny
less.
If You wish to starve your family, be
drunkard, for that will consume their mean
of support.
If you would be imposed ON by knaves, b.
a drankard, for that will make their task
easy
If you wished to be robbed, be drunk
ard, which will enable the thief to do it will
more safety.
If you wish to blunt your sense, be
| drunkard, and you i'll soon lose your under
taking.
If you wish to unfit yourself for rationa
intercourse, be drunkard, for that will ren
der you wholly unfit for it,
If you are resolved to kill yourself, be
, drunkard, that being a sure mode of des
truetion.
If you would expose both your folly an
secrets, be drunkard, and they will 500
run out as the liquor runs in.
II you think you are too strong, be drunk
f ard, and you will soon be subdued by S
powerful an enemy.
If you would get rid of your money with
out knowing how, be a drunkard, and it wi
. vanish insensibly
If you would have no resource when pa,
labor, be drunkard, and you will be unabl
) to provide any.
If you would be pest to society, be
drunkard, and you will be avoided as infe,
tion.
! If you would wish 10 be despised by you
children, be dtunkald, and they will stud
! to forget that such one was their father.
i If you wish to 5r wretched here, and MOI
miserable hereafter, he a drunkard, for yo
: most certainly will be-[N Y. Evenin
: Post.