The Brookhaven leader., 1889-09-05
WORDS AND ACTIONS.
The Latter Will Have More Influence
Than the Former.

Than the Former.
There is no power greater than that
of example in molding human char
acter. The little child looks up to it's
parents as superior beings, and we all
know how common is the aspiration
among children Ito be big" in order
that they may do this or that like pa
pa does" A boys character and be-
liefs are largely shaped by the daily
unconscious teaching of his fathers
cxample-far more, too, by that ex-
ample than by his precepts. The ef-
feet of the most eloquent and oft-re-
peated warnings to shun even the taste
of rum is entirely dissipated the mo-
ment that boy sees his father drink
ing at saloon, or notes the fumes of
the accursed poison upon his breath.
Children early learn THAT there is a
wide difference between precept and
practice; and where fathers prac-
tice in the matter of rum-drinking
differs from the precepts he lays down
for the guidance of his boy, we may
be quite sure that the fathers ex-
ample will be followed as to the prac-
tice, while the precepts are ignored.
Actions exert more influence than
words.
This principle of unconscious yet
potent teaching by example extends
much further than over the period of
childhood and youth. Many a young
hos honn laA inf tho h o hit nf
drinking through the example of his
employer, or of his fcllow-workmen
or fellow-clerks. Thousands of men
have wrecked their lives by assuming
that there was no harm in habit in
which they found their associates or
their employers habitually INDUCED.
And another striking instance OF the
evil influence of example in the use OF
strong drink is found in the fashiona-
bic habit of having wines upon the
table at formal dinners, receptions, etc.
The harm that results from this per-
nicious custom is largely due to the
example of comparatively very few
of the ultra-fashionable set. They are
the leaders of fashion-they set the
example, and the others, desirous of
being ultra-fashionable. too, follow
blindly. What more striking instance
can be given of the power of example
and of the initiative instinct in hu-
manity, prompting us to follow blind
ly the dictates of others? We are like
sheep; we follow leader, even though
that leader leaps a precipice, and we
go to our deaths upon the jagged rocks
Of ruin below.
In view of all these facts, it is the
plain duty of every parent who wishes
his sons saved from the vice of intem-
perance; of every employer who has
under him clerks or young workmen;
of every one who has the slightest in
fuence over his fellows (and who has
none?, to abstain utterly and entirely
from indulgence in rum. Let it alone;
let it go to its own place-for Sam
Jones once said: Liquor is a good
thing in its place, but its place is hell !"
Is place is hell, because it is a part
of hell itself; and wherever it goes, it
takes hell along with it. Give the
force of your voice and of your exam
pie to keep it in its place. If it enters
your life. it makes existence hell; if
it enters your family circle, it makes
it d hell for one or more of your loved
ones; if you drink it and take it into
your system, it creates therein a de-
praved, terrible, unquenchaole, burn
ing and raging thirst, that can only be
likened to the torment of the damned
in the flames of hell.
The example of a father may bring
hell into the lives of his children, and
OF his children's children, even for
generations. The habit of drinking
in an older workman, or in a foreman,
or in an employer, may bring down to
the mire of drunkenness and poverty
many of the younger employees. The
genteel tippling of the merchant is .
danger TO his clerks. The sparkling
wine upon the table of the lady who
is a leader of the ton may work ruin
to hundreds. Is there not In all these
things lesson for all of us to learn?
II will not do to answer with Gains
question: ''Am | my brothers
keeper?' II will not do to say that