The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-09-29
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
ONE MANS REASON.

Examples OF tho Blighting Effects of
Drink.
Another thing which led me to make
up my mind never to touch liquor was
the damage which I saw wrought by
It upon some of the finest minds with
which it was ever my privilege to come
into contact, and l concluded that
what had resulted injuriously to
others might prove so to me. have
seen. even in my few years of profess
sional life, some of the smartest, yea
brilliant literary men dethroned from
splendid positions owing to nothing
else but their indulgence in wine. l
have known men, with salaries of
thousands of dollars per year, occupying
positions which hundreds would strive
lifetime to attain, come to beggary
from drink. Only recently there ap-
piled to me, for any position could
Offer him, one of the most brilliant
editorial writer's in the newspaper pro-
fession-a man who, two years ago,
easily commanded one hundred dollars
for single editorial in his special
held. That man became so unreliable
from drink that editors are now afraid
OF his articles, and, although he can to-
day write as forcible editorials as at
any time during his life, he sits in a
cellar in one of our cities writing
newspaper wrappers for one dollar per
thousand. And that is only one in
stance of several could rccite here.
do not hold my friend up as terrible
example; he is but one of a type of men
who convince me and may convince
others that clear mind and liquor do
not 60 together.
I know it is said when one brings up
such an instance as this: "Oh, we'll.
that man drank to excess. One glass
will hurt no one." How do these people
know that it won't? One drop of kerr
osene has been known to throw into
flame an almost hopeless fire. and one
glass OF liquor may fan into flame smol-
dering spark hidden away where we
never thought it existed. The spark may
be there, and it may not Why take
the risk? Liquor to a healthy boy or
young man will never do him the least
particle of good; it may do him harm.
Then, as / looked around and came
to know more of people and things, l
found the always unanswerable argu-
ment in favor of a youlg mans absti-
hence, l. e., that the most successful
men in America to-day are those who
never lift wineglass to their lips. Be-
coming interested in this fact | had
the curiosity to personally inquire into
it. AMI of twenty-eight of the leading
business men in the country, whose
names | selected at random, twenty
two never touch a drop of wine of any
sort. l made up my mind that there
was some reason for this. If liquor
brought safe pleasures, why did these
men abstain from it? If, as some
say, it is stimulant to busy
man, why did not these men, direct
ing the largest business interests in this
country, resort to it? And when | saw
that these were the men whose opinions
in great business matters were accepted
by the leading concerns of the world,
concluded that their Judgment in the
use of liquor would satisfy me- If their
judgm ent in business matters could
command the respect and attention OF
the leaders of trade on both sides of the
sea, their decision as to the use of Ii
quor was not apt to be wrong.
And as opportunities come to me to
go around in homes and at public
places, l find that do not occupy d
solitary position. The tendency to
abstain from liquors is growing more
and more among young men of to-
day. The brightest young men l
know. young men who are filling posi-
tions of power and promise. never touch
drop of beer, wines or intoxicants
of any sort. And the young man who
to-day makes up his mind that he will
be on the safe side and adhere to strict
total abstinence will find that he is not
alone. He has now the very best ele-
ment in business and social life in the
largest cities of our land with him. -
Edward w. Box, in Ladies' Home Jour
nal.