The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-12-08

power of habit, and especially evil
habits: Habit is mans best friend.
or worst enemy. 1t can exalt him to
The highest pinnacle of fame, honor,
and benevolonce, or sink him to the
lowest depths of vice, shame, and
misery.
Lake for Instance whiskey drinking:
1t is superfiuous for me to soy q great
deal on this subject. The fruits of
it lilo around you, on all sides. See
how the appetite grows on q person,
step by step, until tho once honored
man OF intellect now lies by the way
side, the gutter, soon to fill q drunk
ards grave. Oh! that Icould make an
impression on those who are addicted
to the evil habit of strong drink. In
short, it makes this grand and glori-
ons old world in which wo live Chat
God has intended as q Paradise) n
dark prison cell. Pardon me for
spenkIng personally, but rs an illus
tratlon, o, see what q contrast six
years have wrought! Then, [ could
$ot any position [ was qualified of
illhn@, rai%e any reasonable amount Of
money, and bolilicd by every one that
knew me. Now, l am friondless mon.
cylcss. and in jail. Exchanged the
sacred desk for a dark prison cell
all from the evil habit Of whiskev
drinking. Young men, take warning
ny mo. "Iouch not, taste not, han
dlc not, ye the uncleau thing, (whis-
Eoy) Shun tho association OF drunk
nrdS. BY thus doing, you will mover
fali victim to the great monster, in
temperance. Mr.. Guy, az eminent
wl1tor, gives the foliowinm striking H.
luHtratlon Of forcn Of habit: Ncarinp
Niagara Falls 1 asked q pcntlemo1
what stream that was and how fur
OIL are thc rapids?" After giving tho
deSlred information he spoke OF the
stream III various ways. 1 asked, "is
it possible in Que mile this quiet, un.
diSturhcd, CLASSY water is ronrine
and foamlng i'll %rcat turM,loncc?"
HA"u Will find it SO, SIR and so I
did Now launch your ark ont in
tHlS quiet stream With all the ncccs-
7ary oSScnt'nis for her equipment and
safety. "All right, boys, on VIC 90"
y voice IS heard from The bank, "1c-
ware, young men, the rapids arc be-
low YOU" eve have heard of tho
rapids, but arc not such fools as to
get there. Pass around your bottle,
pardS, and lots all take u drink,
get ia" cards and we'll take q game"
Again the voice is heard, sbown,e.
beware, You are noNrinH the rapids!"
'Ne don't want any moro OF your
cant, yol old fanatic. We are not
illnd men, ncithcr fools, but conpc-
tent TO take care Of oursclyc. When
we sec ihc rapids, we'll hoist sail, nut
I he mast in socket, and steer to shore.
Onward boys. don't be ularmcd! Ey.
crythlng to delight us now. Wen
catch pleasure as it flies. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof sNo !
man ever saw the morrow.' Don't be
alarmed, but take another drink"
Onward and hcIlward they go! "Bc.
ware! Beware! The rapids arc below
iou!" Now you sec the water foam
n& all around, sec how fast so ,,s,3. 4
hat last point. up with tho hclm,
I"w turn, pull hard, quick, quick,
puck, pull fer your lives, ppll until
hr stood starts from Your nos.riIs
nd The veins stand Ike whip cords
II your brow, set the mast in the
ocEct, hoist the sail! All! Nh! I; is .
20 late! Shricking, cursing, howl
-, b!a:rhcming, over they 60.
hoasands so over the rapids every
ear, though tho power OIL
ablt, crying out all the while, "when
hnd out it is injuring me, I'll give
up"
Few people form haLits deliberate
or wIi!!uily. They glide into them
! degrees and almost unconsciuusly,
'd before they arc aware Of tho T
niger, the habits arc confirmed, and J
I'nre roSolutc and persistent cllort
erect chnn&o. Rcsist the bogin-
nS was Il maxim of the Ancicnts,
!" should b" preserved as a land. \,
ARK N our day. Those who aro ~
'HI%"i, or passionate, or mdolcnt,
VlS'Hh' ~, soon make ahipwrccll Of
cmsciTcs and drift about The son Of a
G, the prey Of every wind or cur. n
n'' vam!y "hrickin& for help, till ut
st they drift away into darkncss ~,
d death. Take care, Young man. on
at yen ar" not drifting. See thst ca, ca,
II haYo fast hald Of the helm; thc r.
"aEr'h OF lie forever roar under CO..
c ica' AMI adverse winds blow upon sn. ii'
G sh"r", Arc yuu watchira how 1T"
c hca'.? DO you keep q firm Grip pa
tho wheel! If you givo way for
i" 'H"'n'nt Ton may diff hopcicssly -
- the boiling vortex. Young men, Y
nc care, it crSt3 with Yourselves, !
'h", Gnd>r God, whether Won reach |
IT. trnInrhamtly, or drift to ruin.
,, not %l"" in tnc brcuking of . sin.
l I""t, and especially, drinking
hSi:cN, "tic that would XIII yIydrn II
81 peter s'r!Eo Off one neck than
. hcads. Fell the tree and tho
aHc.'"S ar" soon cut Of" oc
y person has uHlS C,,o Iifo !, l;,o