The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-23
HIS WILL PARALYZEO.

Terrible Experience of an Habitual
Drunkard-His Downfall, Ruin, Resist
ance and Final Cure.
In recent number of the West
minister RecieU a reformed habitual
drunkard " unbosoms himself in an ar
ticle whose dark and dreadful pictures
recall the weird dreams of the opium
eater. Although the writer fails to
give his name, he is evidently well up
in the social circles OF Great Britain,
while the high character of the RevtcW
Is sufficient guaranty of the genuine
ness of the narration.
After telling of his many and dis
astrous Weddings to the terrible appe-
tite for alcohol, which had deprived
him of position after position, the re-
peated warning of friends, and his own
efforts to escape from the demon of
drunkenness, the author describes the
abject powerlessness of the habitual
drunkard:
" The habitual drunkard, however, is power
less to regard all warnings. His conscience
may be as keen as his remorse is great. He
may earnestly long and strive to do what he
knows to be right. He may even be strong
minded in all that concerns the business of life,
save in one particular failing; but, as De
Quincy says OF the opium-eater: His intellect
ual apprehension of what is possible infinitely
outruns his power, not of execution only, but
even of power to 3ttempt.' He lies in sight of
all he would fain perform, but is powerless as
an infant, and can not even attempt to raise.
He drinks, not because he likes drink or likes
q drunk He often one and
shudde~ at the thought of the other; but he
drinks because he has an uncomfortable and
morbid impulse to swallow intoxicating liquor
He may surround himself with every conceive
able restriction, but IN vain. as l shall show in
the sequel; until at length the restless turbd-
ness that is one OF the punishments Of habitual
debauchery paralyzes all the efforts of de-
crepit will, and he ceases to think seriously on
the subject. He does not dare to think on it,
for if he do it produces a melancholy that sends
him all the sooner to drink again
Thoroughly alarmed by the realiza-
ton of his own powerlessness, the
writer threw himself at the feet OF en-
inent physicians and social reformers
to plead for help. But like the friends
who had warned him before they could
give him no hope but in total absti-
nence by the exercise of his own "res-
olute will v and the forsaking of former
companions.
My experience. however, teaches me-" con
tinues the author, that haunts and compan-
ions have little to do with leading the dipso-
maniac TO the fatal cup; although good COM
partnership has a great influence in keeping the
convalescent away from it. AS a rule the
habitual drunkard avoids companions, drinks
in solitary communion with his own bitter
thoughts, building castles in the air, cursing
every glass he drinks. and inwardly resolving
that each particular debauch shall be his Iast.
When, too he turns away from mis- old haunts
it is to discover new and perhaps more enticing
ones. The glittering gin palaces stares him in
the face wherever he turns his eyes. The pub
l!can is everywhere, 1t is the same to-day as
it was in l40S, when HocCSeve wrote:
"'The outward sign OF Bacchus and his lure,
That at his doore hangeth day by day,
Exciteth folk to taste of his moisture
So often that man can not well say nay"
Nevertheless the drunkard does not
despair. On the advice of physicians
he surrounded himself with the most
stringent restrictions. '' / have often
left home for London" he says, ga
distance of five miles with no more
money in my pocket than would pur-
chase railway ticket for the return
journey, so as to make it reasonably
impossible to buy drink. What has
been the result. The outward sign
OF Bacchus and his lure has been too
much for me- l have preferred to walk
both journeys in order that | might
drink my money" Hunger and fatigue
and isolation are no protection to the
drunkard.
ION one occasion, during my terrible soiourn
in q continental city already referred to, was
three days without food. Nothing passed my
Ups but water, and my head was full OF
thoughts OF suicide. on the fourth morning
/ discovered in my pocketbook five cartes-
p0staltS sold them for eight sous. intending
10 buy bread with the money, and surely, one
would think, my circumstances and condition
were suficent to prevent any miscarriage Of
my intention. But on my way 70 the boatdR0s-
RE / came to q wine-shop, and three sous went
for glass Of Cia rOuge; second wine-shop
took other three sous, and must now believe
that had possessed still other three sous they
would have been similarly spent but as the re-
naming two sous would Ect purchase drink they