Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-23
W. C.. Il. u. NOTES.
is MODERATE DRINK sAFEo

have m mnt'srsa Of ,,tS iiSt TO
by himself aud family
but when q man is singled out by his
fellow citizens t. represent them i'm the
law.making bodies of the country, as
we'll as leader in the church and IN
society, his dOings and sayings, all his
omissions and commissions, are not
ed and commented upon. Deacon X
was a man of more than ordinary ahil-
ity. Genial and kind in his intercourse
with his neighbors; broad in his views,
liberal with his means, and OF bound
less hospitality. His constarcy as p
friend was IL mark ell trait in his char
acter. while his Kindness to the sick
and poor called down blessing upon
his head. But to his Christian breth-
rem there was a Flemish that sadly
marred the life of this, otherwise, good
man. On the great question that has
become such an important factor in the
social and political equations that are
taxing the wisdom of the wise to solve,
his influence was plainly on the side of
those who maintain that the abuse OF
strong drink should not be urged
against its use; and holiing such views
he did not scruple to set wine and ale
upon his table, t, use it himself, and
allow the same freedom to his children.
He also gave his sanction to the popu-
lar amusements of card-playing and
dancing, in open defiance of the un-
written law of the church of which h
was q member and office. A feeble
protest by some of his brethren, who
said that such indulgences were not
conducive to growth in piety, or the
furthering of the cause of truth and
-;.rIf fPfn NI-h
were frequent visitors at his house and
were thus drawn into participating in
these amusements, was received with
complaisant smile, but no disp sltion
was manifested tn give up that which
he deemed harmless, lest he offended a
brother,
it was i'm the winter of IS when
the great temperance revival swept
over our land, that the little village OF
b had its stagnant life stirred tn
the depths by wave of ref1rm that
came 10 it in the mighty upheavai.
Large and enthusiastic meetings were
held in the churches, pledges were cir
culated, and much earnest work was
done by the friends of the cause. IL
was n matter of surprise that Deacon
RS youngest daughter was constant
attendant at these meetings, ana sur
prise deepened into wonder WHEN Sht
openly allied herself with the temper
ance people. 10y signing the pledge ard
throwing all the ard0r Of ner young
life into the cause.
The morning following this bold steI
when Mamie came down u breakfast
her pleasant good-morning received a
very chilly response frum her father
and as soon as the blessing was asked
he said to her: 81 am very sorry in
deed that a child of mine should find il
necessary to join in with a lot of IA
natic-, who, because they are too W eak
to control their appetites, bind them
selves by a solemn pledge neither t.
touch, taste nor handle, but since you
have confessed your weakns SIS we " i'll
try not to throw temptation in your
way, and will therefore drink our wine
afr you retire from the table,
Nannie's face crimsoned at this bit
ing sarcasni, but she replied very quiet
ly, You knew papa, [ never drink
anything but water, but | wanted to
lend my little mite of influence against
this dreadful curse. / fear it will We,
bring us sorrow. for, Oh, papa-Char-
lie-do you think Charlie was quite
temperate when he was home last
papa?"
"Come. come daughter, it is rather
presumptuous In you to criticise your
brother who is older than you, and
entirely competent to take care of him.
self. Let US hear no more of this. y
Then in a more kindly tone, "1ou are
at liberty to do as you like about this
teetotaliSm, but remember the same
liberty must be accorded to the Other
mem bers of the family. As to Charlie
young men will SOW their wild oats,
but you will see that your brother will
make a man to be proud OF; SO doi't
bother your little head about reform
ing those who are older and W User than
YOURSELF
\ few months later an event OF con
siderable Importance of Deacon RS
family Furnished an occasion on which
the deacou's theory as tn moderat,
drinking received most damaging
blow. The thiriy-tbird anniversary
OF his marriage came III the holidays
and 1t pleased the de aeon to celebrate
The event by giving party such a.
had never before gathered i'll B.
Invitations were ISSUED Tor aevera
hundred guests, and when the evening
arrived, the we'll filled rooms of thtll
spacious residence suggested that few
had failed to avail themselves of this
opportunity to congratulate the wOI thy
couple who Were how beginning |,
travel the down grade that leads :,
rapidly t" old age. Seated in II co"
spicuous place in one of the brilliantly
lag lieu ParlUrS surrounded 10y their
friends AMI neighhOrs, their faces
braming with serene Enjoyment ant
the content arising from conscious
Integrity duly appreciated, Willie then
beautiful aud accomplished daughters
received and entertained the guests
the scene Was one 70 gladden. the heart
OF any one.
Both Mary and Mamie K. possess
in u large 81, gree the rare tact OF max
ing each particular guest feei tnat ht
or she, was especially welcome, ard al
haruuuiZing a.y discorlant elements
that might be brought together IN Sc
promiscuuuS Il company as one meets
at large party III u small place.
Their ENTERTAINMENTS Mere always
voted IA succ. s.; a!id Judging from tne
gay throng that now filled the house
With mirth, ana g0od-cheer, this one
would be no exception.
Have you seen CharIie?" whispered
Mamie as she passed her sister in the
wide hall that led into the room where
their patents sat. 80 Mary! see-he
is" and as she stopped, her cheeks
bianched and she tottered and fell
against the stairway. Hastily recov-
ering herself she passed up the stairs,
and Mary turned to see the brother
advancing or rather staggering, to-
wards where his parents sat with a
vacant leer on his fine face that but to
MAINLY told no WAS