The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-06-15
HIS WILL PARALYZED.

mercy speed the day!
The. Little Christian
HIS WILL PARALYZED.
Terrible Experience of an Habitual
Drunkard-His Downfall, Ruin, Resist
ance and Final Cure.
In a recent number of the West
minister ReUieao reformed 'shabitual
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 Revie0
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 ali 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 attempt 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
to get drunk. He often detests the 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 I shall show in
the sequel; until at length the restless turbid-
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 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 Tres
olute will" 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 q rule the
habitual drunkard avoids companions, drinks
in solitary communion with his own bitter
thoughts building castles in the air, cursng
every glass he drinks, and inwardly resolving
that each particular debauch shall be his last
When, too, he turns away from his old haunts
it is to discover new and perhaps more enticing
ones The glitterng gin palaces stares him in
the face wherever he turns his eyes. The pub
lean is everywhere, 1t is the same to-day as
it was in 140S, when Hoccleve wrote:
60 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 we'll say nay.' ,"
Nevertheless the drunkard does not
despair. On the advice of physicians
he surrounded himself with the most
stringent restrictions. g | have often
left home for. London he says, ga
distance of five miles with no more
money in my pocket than would pur-
chasea 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. 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 continental city already referred to, L was
three days without food. Nothing passed my
Ups but water, and my head was full of
thoughts of suicide. On tie fourth morning
| 1 discovered in my pocket-Dook five cdrtes-
| p0stdtes. sold them for eigkG sous, intending
to buy bread with the money and surely, one
would think, my circumstances and condition
were sufficient to prevent any miscarriage of
my intention. But on my way to the bouIange-
| RE j came 10 a wiue-shop, and three sous went
hAe'So VI oSSSAie
took other three sous, and must now believe
that had M ssessed still other three sous they
| would have been similarly spent, but as the re-
naming two sous would not purchase drink they
were invested in roasted chestnuts I have
known similar occurrences in regard to other
! persons; and the advice to avoid old haunts
| and evil companions, however well inten-
toned, is therefore of little avail to dip
| somaniac.
i - lr,sc- L.
remains then but the ''effort of the
will.
"But the effort of the will is a physical phe.
nomenon and is not entirely under the control
| OF any man. 1t obeys fixed laws. It's strength
or its weakness consists of the impulses which
act upon it, There is a limit to its power. 1t is
even conceivable that it alone may be con-
| slant quantity at a time when other impulses
| OF the brain are not. At any rate it is but a
movement of nervous matter, and the proper
| strength and direction of that movement de-
| ponds upon healthy condition of the brain.
| The use of alcoholic stimt1ant Git has been
proved destroys that essential condition. The
toxic agent acting upon the brain changes its
organic composition and deteriorates its func-
| tons. There is a weakening of the controlling
| power Of the h; CHER brain centers. pollution
| by alcoholic poisoning OF the source whence
| flows the dictates OF the will Indeed, there
| are structural alterations OF the whole nervous
/ system until at length the nervous batteries
become SO feeble that not only is there no spon-
| taneous overflow of nervous power but no dis
| charge whatever, and the will is paralyzed.
| When such is the case, every motive for prn.
| dence and restraint, all the force of dear
| bought experience is as nothing compared to
/ the craving for drink. The sense of the most
/ lasting interests does rot move the will Sc
/ strongly as does the relish for stimulants. The
determination to have acts with far more