Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-23
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
REFORMING pRuNkARps.
What Should be Done With Persons Adj
dicted TO the Alcohol Habit.

bne CULTIVATION OF baSJe Tor liquor Is
dangerous habit; that alcohol in all its
form is drug to be dreaded and avoid
ed as strychnine or aconite, and that
opium should only be given when inn
peratively demanded. Let parents in
all conditions of life be made to feel,
and educated to believe, that it is dan
gerous practice to allow, and fearful
responsibility to encourage, their chill
| dren to drink the mild wines, beer or
cider.
While / was writing this section of
my paper gentleman ffty-two years of
age and one who has experienced all the
degradation possible from drink, has
lost his fortune, ruined his health, and
is separated from his family, said TO me:
Forty years ago attended church three
times each Sunday, and listened to ser
mons one hour in length each time, and
in addition attended Sabbath-school, and
| during all these religious exercises for
years have never heard word in re-
gard to the baleful effects of narcotics.
commenced gradually and knew moth
ing of its dangers" This is true of
hundreds Of thousands.
But, thanks to our educational Tenn
perance organization, this is being
overcome, and l trust that the time is
not far distant when every parent will
realize that it is not only a smart thing,
but fearful crime, to send their chill
dren to saloon for liquors, and much
greater one TO tempt them by Offering
the sugar that is in the bottom of the
glass
What shall be done with our third
class, those who have already acquired
the habit?
Probably about twenty per cent. can
be reformed the first time their atten-
ton can be arrested long enough to
keep them perfectly sober. This can
be done by rest, seclusion and educa-
tion--any way by which the alcohol and
opium can be eliminated from the sys-
tenn and few days rest for the body
be taken, and then, followed by en-
couraging words, a definite plan OF
work and a resolution never to asso-
ciate with former companions If the
question be asked; "Why have homes
and asylums for inebriates been estab-
lished and maintained at cost Of money
and labor, if the habit of inebriation is
not disease, and only twenty per
cent. sayed?" i would reply that, after
Temperance organizations and societies,
the church and clubs have done all that
is possible, some of the most promising
of those reformed will relapse from
causes which l have just enumerated.
These men need a place where they
can acquire strength; where, separated
from their companions, their moral
sense can be cultivated and strength |
ened. Some men change habit in a mo-
ment; with others it takes months, per-
haps years. Many men use alcohol for |
years without impairment of any func-
ton of the body; others are injured in /
nearly every organ. For those who need |
time to perfect a reforma-
ton, and that class, too, whose consti- |
buttons have been injured by the volun-
tary use Of alcoholics, and who, from
habit and association, have not the NOR
al sense TO say No to an invitation to
drink, to such, homes and asylums are
houses Of refuge. Reformation is mat
ter OF deyelopment-not a presto
change affair, not done in twinkling
Of an eye, but a matter Of growth,
matter of development. A man who has
been addicted to the inordinate use OF
alcohol and opium is never safe He
must be on his guard. A reformed man
must be taught, and the lesson must be
well learned, that let come what will
sickness, trouble, death, reverses, singly
,r all combined-that he can not with
my safety touch drop or he will fall.
No class or profession of men see so
many of these unfortunates as our pro-
ession. We should be able to tell
hese men that it is their duty to
light this appetite, If they have been
% unfortunate as to form it, and that
here is no drug that can take it en-
irely from them.
What is to become of the remaining
'er cent? l stated. it must be re-
nembered, that thought about twenty |
n each hundred could be quickly re-
ormed If we could get access to them.
What about the remaining eighty?
Quite number will reform after re-
eated trials and failures; few, after G
uuNdtlOH upon tnc SubJCCts VIII NAAah
ess-are improved, but not reformed.
| considerable number go to form the
ourth class, the description and treat S
lent of which will now speak. d
These can not be reformed either $
through influence of rest, seclusion or 7
y the moral strength acquired in re- 2
institution. These are the r
incorrigible, disquieted a
len, who have not only discouraged e
ut rendered miserable their relatives d
nd all their acquaintance. They have
ever learned to obey; they are undis-
plined and generally lack all feeling a
responsibility. They are the men G
no beat their wives and starve their il
lildren; the men who steal the hard y
armed money from their wives purse Z
nd the knives and napkins from their CT
Ibles to buy alcohol or opium, and d
hen perfectly sober or free from the o.
rug you expostulate with them they cl
i'll laugh and assure you that they e.
now their own business. The State p'
loBld assume the Guardianship of tbis te