The Brookhaven leader., 1889-08-08
THE DRINK HABIT.

pette-The Latter Demanus Wore aho
More, and Its Victims Become Its Alb
ysIt 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 1t 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 a spider; but in the end 1t
has the strength of "cart rope. This
is especially true OF the drink habit
Begin hing 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 eefore
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 I had it to be true man, yet
in twenty-four hours l may be over
come and disgraced by a shilling's
worth OF sim"
Alcohol is the only thing that can
mako a drunkard, and it is the in
toxicating clement 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 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 beverages?" 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
a day this month or year will be fol-
lowed by two glasses a day next month
or year. In this way, more and more
is drank, in larger quantities and
more frequently, until drunkenness
becomes a habit. 1t is not so with
othcr drinks and foods. When thirsty
we drink water and are satisfied. One
glass satisfies us this year just as well
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 day next
year to appease our hunger. A loaf a
day for life may be the rule. And it is
because natural appetite is gratifed.
On the other hand, alcohol, in large
or small doses, creates an unnatural
appetite, which is never satisfied, but
cries continually, give, give, give.
With such undeniable facts before
men, it is strange that young or old
should daily with this tempter. Know
ing that the victims of intemperance
outnumber those of war and pesti-
lence combined, it is inexplicable that
the procession on the road to ruin
continues its doleful tramp Men see
their fellows drink and perish, and
yet they drink on and perish also. In
no other matters do they act thus.
They avoid all other dangers if posi-
BILE. They are 10th even to take their
chances amidst other perils. They
give the unseaworthy vessel wide
berth. They refuse to ride on the
train that is run by drunken engi-
neer. They keep as far away as pos
sible from other dangers.
A wealthy lady of New York City
advertised for coachman. She was
very timid, and desired careful
driver So she asked the first appli-
cant: "If you were driving near a
precipice, how would you driver" The
man answered: Il would drive within
two inches and not drive Off" He
thought that would be skillful. Other
applicants for the place answered in a
similar way. At length, however, one
applied, to whom the same inquiry
was put, and the answer came,
promptly: Il would keep as far away
from it as possible" and he was hired.
That was sensible treatment of physic-
al danger. When old and young are
as sensible about the drink curse, they
will keep as far away from it as posi-
bic. Touch not, taste not, handle
not"
1t is equally strange that govern
ment should allow the sale of that
which creates this fearful drink habit.
1t sanctions the traffic, and builds
alms-houses and prisons for the men
that traffic ruins. This is neither wise
nor reasonable. Were trader to sell
grain that poisoned cattle and swine.