Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-07
COMMUNICATED.


Mr.. EDIToR-No loyal son of Shep-
herdstown, no matter how far away
he may be, or how long absent, can
fail to be interested in all that is
going on in that precinct. If he r. ads
the REGISTER he must be well in
formed as to all passing events there.
1t has been many years since l left
the parental roof and my dear native
village, TO battle with the world, and
| have lived in various portions of old
Virginia, have made many kind
friends and true but | have never
forgotten the home of my childhood
nor the friends and companions of
my youth, and my love is still fresh
for the old town. Many who started
in life with me have run their race,
have ended their career, and entered
that bourne from whence no traveller
returns" Yet some are still treading
the pathway of life, and the oppor-
tunity for good or evil is before them,
and | thank God that see the names
of so many of those companions Of
my youth battling for principles upon
the establishment Of which the peace.
responsibility and prosperity OF the
town must depend. | have read with
intense interest the accounts of efforts
now being made to suppress the in
famous traffic Of selling to young and
old the deadly draught which ruins
soul and body, and the temperance
cause brought before the people boldly
and without fear.
| wish | could join them and face
TO face plead as | did years ago, in
company with Rev. DR.. Andrews, of
blessed memory, and battle for the
right as some in ShepherdStown are
doing now. Would God | had the
pen of an angel, with diamond point,
to cut into the conscience and souls
of men that they might feel the force
of my pleading and flee from the
wrath to come.
But appeal not only to those who
vote to cast their vote in the scale OF
right, temperance and order, and
those who use their influence to pnt
down the killing vice Of drunkenness,
but also | call upon those who sell
stimulants, and who are destroying
their neighbors homes, their souls
and bodies, to pause and remember
that what brings profit to them,
brings ruin, sorrow and death 10 the
neighbors he is bound by Gods law
TO love them as himself. | would ask
of those who deal in this ensnaring
dreadful traffic, What shall ii profit
a man if he gain the whole world and
lose his own soul?' TO lire without
God is terrible thing. But TO de
without God-O, vino can portray the
awfulnass of that misery when the
slender cord of life is snapped and the
astonished, despairing soul enters eter
nity and stands before its Maker. u,
the untold world of agony, contained,
in that expression, lost soul? The
great and merciful Redeemer asks,
What shall man give in exchange
for his soul? p He who made it knew
its value. and nothing this vast world
could offer can make up for the loss
Of it.
O, young man, if you value your
immortal soul, touch not, taste not,
handle not the dccESed thing. As
cannot in person plead with you, |
seud this letter and urge upon the
people the importance Of closing the
saloon. What reasons shall | give!
| have given them above, viz: the
ruin OF so many where the few are
financially benefited. | could tell you
Of "a happy family-a father, mother,
three beautiful little girls, broken up,
destroyed by these alluring dens OF
vice and shame, called saloons. |
could tell you Of young man OF
splendid physique, attractive man
ners. bright prospects Of success In
his chosen profession, who, ruined by
the temptation Of the so-called saloons
took his own life, bringing lifelong
grief and anguish upon his mother
and placing his soul beyond the reach
OF salvation.
These are instances which have
come under my personal knowledge.
could give others, but il takes too
long and is perhaps too narrowing to
your feelings. Let ne beg my friends
who shall read these lines, written by
one who takes the deepest possible
interest in the place of his birth, and
who has never yet found place he
loves 80 WE'LL say let Inc beg you to
think of the matter, think OF this
great and serious evil to the whole
community, and decide before God
and YOUR own conscience TO vote &C
cording to right upon this most i'm
portant subject which is now before
the public. Ia
Charlottesville, Va, March 3, 1890.
Last Friday afternoon Charles
Kincaid. CORRESPONDENT of the Louis