The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-10-31
Enconragement for workers.

In copy of the New York Times Of recent
date is long article on the drink question
which ought to afford considerable encour-
agement to the workers in the temperance
cause. The article shows how the world has
been turning over new lear and grow
ing more temperate The conclusions thus
arrived at are not particularly new or start
ling at this time, but some of the statements
made i'll illustration of the reformed condi-
tion OF affairs are interesting and suggestive
The good old days,ni il is said, are past when
it was not considered worthy of remark If
the gentleman of the house was deposited on
his front-door step by companions who could
at least walk, and whose entire duty in the
premises had been accomplished when they
rang the bell preparatory to saying; GOOD
night, old fel-n and staggering off in the
direction of their own domiciles. Those
were the days when men who were accus-
TO imbibe twenty-five or thirty mint juleps
or brandy smashes TO say nothing of odd
midnight were known in their own set as
steady old bovs whose capabilities and capa-
city in the drinking line were considered in the
light OF a distinction rather than as weak
ness Attention is a so called to the fact
that scientific journals periodicals and
newspapers are devoting more AMI more at
tention to the various phases of the drink
question Total abstauers and Frohibi
tionsts are not feeling rs lonesome, il is said,
as they used to be. and are not ashamed
in the drink business, it is added, are COM
PEELED to admit that hard" liquors had ev-
IDENTIFY seen their best days. They admitted,
too, that generally less drinking was done
now than formerly. Some accounted for
this on the ground that very large class
now seldom drank outside their clubs while
another large class possessed either cellars or
s!deboards that were seldom empty. Tho
growth of athletics was advanced as n reason
for the decrease in the consumption Of all
aa.,l- s.r .l...e.
when man once got into condition for an
athletic contest he felt good enough to know
that he would be a fool to ever put n
stimulant into his stomach, or at least TO
make n practice of doing So 1t was also
maintained that men who did MT drink
had the CALI in almost any line ofbusiness,
and that this of itself accounted for much
of the change that has been under way for
Years and that has not fully blossomed yet
NeIC York Observer.
"Alone i'm the Face of the Enemy
The enemy was Jug of rum, which the
reaper wet with sweat and nearly dying of
thirst, saw before him, 1t was standing in
corner Of the field. No cool, clear spring
was near. The reaper was a Temperance
man. He had sgned pledge to drink
ne thcr wine, beer, nor strong drink. Since
he had signed this pledge lie had been well in
health, busy in work, and well of in pocket.
he wore little blue ribbon tied in n button-
hole of his Sunday coat
But -dayl lie thought he had never felt
SO tired, so hot, so thirsty. Ii was such
long, burning, ,ummer day. There was not
one drop of watcr in his can; no well, no
brook in all the field. And then, he was
alone. The other men were far in the other
part of the field, hidden by little rise or
the ground. No one would see if he broke
his pledge, and took Just one little taste from
that stone jug. He stole slowly near the
Jug. Temptation had never been stronger.
But he knew if he drank then, he would
thirst forever, He would wakcn a thirst
that would never sleep. Instead of his calm,
cool, peaceful life, he would have always in
his bosom parchiug desert, crying more!
more! and never satisfied. And he was alone
before his enemy!
Yes. But the God whom he had asked for
help when he gned the pledge was not far
off. Like n fash il came into his mind that
sd saw him and could save him; that Ee
is near to all who call upon Him. The
thought that was strong to save him came
God is here! am not alonem
Turning his hack TO the entcing jug, he
asked God to make him strong to he true.
Then his desire for the forbidden drink
died away. He turned his face to the cool
breeze and wiped his brow. The victory
over ms enemy had been harder than his
work. But now he was strong Back he
went down the harvest field. farther and
farther from the enemy that had lain in wait
for ody and soul
He had gained a victory. What were the
fruits of his victory. He had learned 10
trust GCd and distrust himself. lie had
LEANED to pity and aid those who are
tempted, lie had learned that God is not
far from those who call upon him, and that
those who were with him III the good fight
against temptation were more than those
who were against him. Temperance Ban
aer.