The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-02-05
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE CASE OF JOHN SMITH.
4 Statement In Full of the Cost Of One
Mans Drink.

4 Statement In Full of the Cost OF One
Mans Drink.
John Smith has wife and three
beautiful children. He is butcher by
trade, and, as he thoroughly UNDER
stands the work. he might command a
salary of at least 500 per month the
year round.
Naturally John Smith is an affection
ate husband, kind father. good pro-
WIDER and a diligent workman. He
ought to be the head of happy, COM
Portable home. But John Smith has
one very bad fault; he drinks intoxi-
eating liquors and has become a
drunkard. His wife is known as the
wife of drunkard, and when the play
mates of his children get angry they
taunt them with: "Your pas drunk
ard"
Let us make a statement of the case
of John Smith, the butcher. and learn,
as near as we can, what has been the
actual cost of his liquor bill
John Smith is now forty-five years
old. At the age of twenty-five he was
discharged from a position that com
manded a salary of $50 month, solely
on account of drunkenness, and from
that time to this he has had no steady
employment He works at his trade
between sprees for butchers, who,
knowing his failing and taking advan-
tage of it, pay him small wages and
treat him as they would not dare to il
he was a sober man. From the time
OF his first discharge until the present
day he has not averaged earning over
$50 per month. He might have had at
least $50 month.
Item $50 each month for twenty
years. from loss of employment and
sal airy. Total, $1,000.
What liquor John Smith has drunk
he has had to pay for On an average
his drinks have cost him twenty five
cents day mot a high estimate) for
each day of the twenty-fivc years; or
81 so per month.
Item $3.50 each month for twen-
ty-five years paid for liquor. Total,
ST.
Add item one to item two and we
have $4,000 as the price John Smith,
the butcher, pays in hard cash for the
privilege of being drunkard during
tw enty-five years of his working life.
John Smith at the age of twenty FIVE
was a strong, healthy, intelligent man,
with constitution like iron. Now,
when barely past the meridian of life,
he is trembling, bloated wreck, a
mental and physical ruin, and stands
with one foot on the brink of grave
more awful in its rayless hideousness
than the black depths of the bottom
less pit.
Item 3.-Health and intelligence.
John Smith, the butcher, once had
the love of his faithful wife, the affec-
tions of his beautiful children and the
friendship and esteem of his neigh
bors. Now his wife lives with him
from sense of duty. cherishing. it may
be, loving remembrance of the dead
manhood of his youth, but not loving
him-no' good woman could; his chill
dren fear, nay, almost hate him, be-
cause he has brought suffering and
shame to the dear mother, and woes
innumerable and disgrace almost I'M
bearable into their young lives; his
ueighbors look upon him as drunken
sot, hopelessly ruined man, as one
better in the grave than out OF it
Item 4.-Love of wife and children
and the friendship and respect of
neighbors.
Once John Smith held his head up
proudly and was not afraid to look any
man in the eye. Now he sham bles
along the street, with head bowed and
bleared eyes bent upon the ground.
He has lost his pride in self.
Item 5-Self-respect
John Smith was, naturally, domes-
tic man. He loved his wife and chill
dren, had a pleasant, comfortable home
and was always well clothed and well
fed. Now, he has lost his love for
Mary and the little ones, lives in tum-
bled down shanty, cares not how he
looks, has little to eat and goes about
q living synonym of wretchedness.
Item 5.-Home's blessings and COM
forts
Let us summaries:
Itemized account of the cost of the
drink bill of John Smith, the butcher:
Item Ito cash by loss of en-
ployment and salary for twenty
years, 81, 200
Item 2.-To cash paid for liquor
during twenty years, 1880
Grand total cash cost of liquor
bill for twenty years, 1000
Item3-To twenty years Health and
constant use of intoxi- Intelli-
eating liquors, gence.
Item ITO the bru- The love of wife
talizing influence and children and
of liquor on the the friendship
mind and body by and respect Of
twenty years use, neighbors.
Item 5.-To loss of pride
in self by twenty years
use of liquor, Seif-respect.
Item 6.-To poverty and
the degeneration of Homes bless
home and home infu- ings and com
ences by twenty years forts.
use of liquor,
In raturp for oil Tob,, c,xo;+l,