The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-14
THE DRINK HABIT.

Moro. and Its Victims Become Its Alb
ject Slaves.
The prophet wildly portrayed the
growth and power OF the drink habit
when he said: 'Woe unto them that
draw iniquity with cords of vanity.
and sin as it were with cart rope
The beginning of an evil habit is small
"a "cord OF vanity'--so weak and
frail that it can be broken as easily as
the web OF spider; but in the end it
has the strength Of "cart rope. p" This
is especially true OF the drink habit
Begin ming with an occasional in
diligence in the use of weaker intoxi-
cants-cider, beer and wine, which so
many consider harmless--an appetite
for stronger liquors is created before
the drinker is aware of it, and he finds
himself slave to the habit. One OF
this class exclaimed out of the depths |
OF his bondage: II would give a |
world if had it to be true man, yet
in twenty-four hours / may be over
come and disgraced by a shilling's
worth of sim.
Alcohol is the only thing that can
make drunkard, and it is the in
toxicating element Of all liquors that
inebriate, from whisky down to
cider and beer. A smaller per
cent. of it is found in cider. beer
and wine, but there is enough OF
it even in these beverages to create the
''drunkard's appetite" and form the
worst habit that ever enslaved a HUI
man being. Nearly all Incorporate
men and women began their drinking
career by the use of the weaker intox-
icant. The writer once put the follow
ing question to seventy reformed
drunkards assembled in the hall OF
Washingtonian Home: when did you
begin to form the drink habit and by
the use of what beveragesP" The an
swer from all but one was: I'm boy.
hood, by the use OF cider and BEER"
That one fact is a stronger appeal to
total abstinence than any argument
possible. The greatest danger turks
in the weaker beverage, because it is
thought to be comparatively harmless,
when it is as potent as stronger liquors
to create the drink habit. Two or
three per cent. of alcohol will create
the appetite for strong drink as surely
and perhaps as quickly as thirty or
forty per cent. This fact should stamp
cider and beer with the brand Of con-
demnation as plainly as it does whisky
or brandy.
The real philosophy of the evil is
this: Alcohol does not quench thirst
nor satisfy the drinker. The more he
drinks the more he wants. One glass
day this month or year will be fol-
lowed by two glasses day next month
or year. In this way, more and more
is drank, in larger quantities and
more frequently, until drunkenness
becomes habit. 1t is not SO with
other drinks and foods When thirsty
we drink water and arc satisfied. One
glass satisfies us this year just as we'll
as it did last year A quart or gal
Ion in a given time now will be ample,
one, ten or fifty years hence. When
hungry, we eat bread and meat, and
are satisfied. If we eat one loaf OF
bread each day this year, we shall not
be obliged to eat two loaves a day next
year to appease our hunger. A loaf @
day for life may be the rule. And it i:
because natural appetite is gratified.
On the other hand, alcohol, in large
or small doses, creates an Immature
appetite, which is never satisfied, bu
cries continually, give, give, give.
With such undeniable facts befor,
men, it is strange that young or OLE
should daily with this tempter. Know
ing that the victims of intemperanc,
outnumber those of war and pesti
lcncc combined, it is inexplicable tina
the procession on the road to ruiz
continues its doleful tramp. Men SCI
their fellows drink and perish, an,
yet they drink on and perish also. Il
no other matters do they act thus
They avoid all other dangers if posi-
BILE. They are 10th even to take thei
chances amidst other perils. The
give the unseaworthy vessel a wild
berth. They refuse to ride on tn
train that is run by a drunken engi
neer. They keep as far away as pos
sible from other dangers.
A wealthy lady of New York Cit
advertised for coachman. She wa
very timid, and desired a careful
driver. So she asked the first appli
can't: "If you were driving near
orecipice, how would you driver" Tn
man answered.: al would drive With
two inches and not drive off," H
thought that would be skillful. Othe
applicants for the place answered in
similar way. At length, however, on
applied, to whom the same inauir
xas put. and the answer came
promptly: Il would keep as far ava
from it as possible" and he was hired
That was sensible treatment of physiC
al danger. When old and young ar
as sensible about the drink curse, the
will keep as far away from it as posi-
BILE Touch not, taste not. handl
not"
1t is equally strange that govern
ment should allow the sale of tina
which creates this fearful drink habit
1t sanctions the traffic, and build