The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-09
TEMPERANCE.
THE PROMENADE" ARTICLE.

"A Woman Who Was True to Her Prin-
ciples.
Mrs. A. Elmore relates the follow
ing experience in the Union Signal:
Some years ago was visiting rel
atives in Western city, and with
them was invited to attend, at the
home of wealthy widow, grand
dinner-party in honor of an only sons
twenty-first birthday, and of his re-
covery from terrible injury. Prob
ably fifty guests sat at the bounteous
table. Guests of renown, witty, edu-
Gated, scientific, professional, the most
popular of the lawyers, physicians and
clergymen of the city were there, with
full complement of cultured ladies.
"Grace was said by one of the min
listers as we stood about the table, and
being seated, there began a veritab!e
feast for the cultured mind. When
the time arrived, according to fashion
able custom, a glass of wine was
poured out for each guest; l CHANGED
to be the first one served, and as the
service was wholly unexpected. had
not the opportunity to turn my glass.
and as the glasses were large. had
not expected them to be used for wine.
when all were served, the hostess
said: 4 expect you all to praise my
wine; made it myself, and this is the
first time the barrel has been opened
''Smiles and pleasant appreciative
words of approval passed around the
table as the guests slipped the spark
ling beverage. l was a radical
then, although it was years before the
crusade and | was very young
woman to brave criticism, but my
glass sat unmolested.
"'You seem to have nothing to say,
and we expect a bon mot from you,
said neighbor.
"'Yes, taste your wine and give us
a couplet in its honor, said physician
of note, and the protests and persua-
sions ran round the table.
II took the glass and held it up to
the light. 1t is a beautiful color;
what a PITY that any thing which so
pleases the eye can so injure the soul!
l can not give you couplet in its
honor. can only wonder that a
mother can dare, with her own hands,
to make wine and set it before her
son, and ask Gods blessing upon her
table
''My hand and voice trcmbled, and
silence tell on the guests, which was
broken by the minister who had said
grace. 1 am not SO sure he said,
that the reproof is unneeded to any of
us; some day the question of wine
using will be the question before the
American people. The abuse of it
has become SO great a source of wrong
that the women are going to take it up
as bravely as this young lady has to-
night, and they will force the men
into the fray with them
81 hope not in my day. said the
hostess, while her eyes flashed with
vexation. Little did she dream of the
sorrow which even then doomed up in
her horizon and which came through
strong drink.
"My relatives were indignant, and,
on our arrival at their home, upbraid-
ed me very plainly for my insult to the
hostess.
But I said, they forced me to de-
clare my position. would have kept
silent if they had not assisted on my
speaking
"'Ah! but you did not know that
Mrs. MERGERS son had become fond OF
whisky while he was ill, and she made
the wine purposely for his use to keep
him from using stronger liquor
"She thought tiger was less
dreaded than lion; there she is mis-
taken; the tiger is the most irrepress-
ible man-eater; the lion captures other
game when he can
"'But she knows we'll that her son
would have died except for the whisky
the doctors gave him. He was in that
awful railroad accident at West Bend,
and laid for hours under the broken
truck of the car he was in; he was SO
crushed that he begged of the men to
kill him, and if he could have killed
himself he would. He was unconscious
when they got him out at last. and near
ly frozen as well, for the wreck occurred
just after heavy snow-storm. He is
only just beginning to walk about town
now and it is nearly a year since he was
hurt
1.-the doctors, I suppose, fed him
on whisky all that timer
"'It was necessary, don't you see?
al confess / do not see the neces
sity.'
"'You are a fanatic, and you have
mortified us beyond forgiveness by
showing the fact in a public way
Il ask not forgiveness, I have done
no wrong
"You could have tasted the wine
out of courtesy and have kept still.
81 could have violated my prin'
ciples and have lost an opportunity *
defend the right, and have lent my in
f1uence to the wrong.
Fudge and nonsense, principle in
deed, to upset the pleasure of the en-
tire party in such al must say it
vulgar way