The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-13
RUM.

Word That Suggests the Picture Of
Skull and Cross-Bones-An Appeal to
Young Men.
There is no word of three letters in
the English language or any other
language that is so voluminously suo-
gestive as this word rum. TIC one who
has been sufficiently sympathetic to
lament the misfortunes and sorrows of
his kind and sufficiently observant to
see the dreadful effects of intemper-
ance, the very word seems like pict-
ure of skull and croSs-bones, with
power to hiss out the word death and
to startle us with its seemingly in
telligent mockery of human wretched-
ness. The triumphs of liquor have
been so widespread and heartrending,
so crushing to human hopes and blight
ing to human character, so awful in
their effect upon innocence and i'm
bruting to the noblest instincts of the
human heart, that there is nothing that
so fills the lover of his race with u
burning hatred as the simple word
which glares at us in the head of this
article. Eating out the very manhood
of the developing boy, tearing the fair
est character to Shreds, clouding the
brightest inteIlects that have ever
glowed in the world, poisoning the
nobleSt natures that have ever mel
lowed the character of humanity with
reflections of divinity, spreading a
black shadow over hearthstones, fill
ing almshouses and prisons and load
ing scaffolds, and singing to their
deaGh honor and purity and innocence,
rum has been aud is the Unsuitable
demon that gloats over the broadcast,
blacklist swath of its own moving
that was ever cut through human
hearts and human happiness. In
the presence of such a remorSeleSs des-
troyer it is not cowardice to confess
ourselves afraid of the monster, or to
run from its presence. 1t is foolhardi-
ness to stand where somany thousands
have been swept into ruin. 1t is little
short of idiocy to tamper with that
which has conquered the brightest
minds and strongest wills, and made
decent men repulsive in habit and APP
pearance.
10 the young men we earnestly app
peal for their undying enmity to rum.
As you value your happiness, and
honor, and usefulness to yourselves
and to the world, touch not, taste not,
handle not the accursed stuff. Do not
make the. mistake of supposlng that
you will be safe in the clutch of des-
troyer that has laid low so many
thousands of our race; and do not
make the greater mistake of thinking
that you can drink and the world not
know it. That is vice that above all
others leaves its footprint just where
all may see it. The most moderate
drinker can not hide the evidence of
his indulgence. The eye, the breath
and the manner tell the story even
with the man who drinks moderately,
which our young readers may prove to
their satisfaction if they will observe
the occasional drinker. If you drink,
be willing that the world shall know
it, for it will. One of the decisions of
drinking men often is that nobody
knows of their failing. With the marks
of the vice on every feature of their
faces, and conspicuous in their eyes
and often in their tongue, and perhaps
in their step, they persist in thinking
that the world thinks them sober and
pure. Be sure, young friend, that
this sin above al; others will surely find
you out Western RurQL