Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-16
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
COMMON Sis AND Drink.
Natural Principles Governing the Needs
of Man.

full as this very simple science Of teach
ing why people should abstain from
strong drink. There is common sense
in science, and when science is moi
common sense, it is not strictly speak
ing, scientific in its character Science
is simplicity. 1t is nature speaking 70
man. When we look at the details OF
life and consider how they are put to-
gether-so that living creatures may
be brought into action, and may exist
and have power. and may go through
| the phase which we call liie--we see
that. with regard to the means by
which a living being is brought into
existence and carried through it, there
are certain methods for the constru"-
ton of the body, for the supply of its
wants and necessities. and for the
maintenance of its power, which re-
main inviolate. Men may change their
views and opinions, but these eternal
laws go on.
So when we come TO the investiga-
ton of the food and drink of man we
find that, according TO nature, there is
one principle at work, and none other.
There are two things given us to
live upon in nature things which are
combustible and things which go to
build up the body. These we call food.
Then we have something given to us
to carry these solid parts of food
round the body and dispose of them in
the same way in which the merchant
distributes his goods up the rivers, and
so on. The bearer of all these sub
stances which go TO build up our
bodies is a fluid, and that fluid is
water. II makes up sixty-four per
cent of the weight Of all our bodies,
and il carries like a mighty river ali
through our vessels the food which we
require. In nature we always find this
water present The smallest or the
largest animal cannot live without this
fluid. Beasts require no other fluid
than water. II is not until we come 10
man, and then only TO very small
part of mankind, that we see any inter
ference with this universal law of ma
ture.
Man must at some period of his his |
tory have dropped upon stray kind of
product which exists in nature, and. |
thinking it different from water, began
to drink it. He called it wine and |
then spirit, when he had discovered |
the art of distillation. Then serious
evils took place. He was off the line,
was not running with the natural state
of things, but by and by men began to
learn. Then not learned men bu, poor
men began TO think it wise TO return to
natural principles. Poor men rather
more than fifty years ago began to
start this great principle that man
should be content like the rest of crea-
tion with the natural fluid sent to him.
There has been great controversy
as TO whether it is not bad TO give up
the fluid alcohol. You will ask: Is this
fluid positively harmful? Yes, it is
harmful 1t changes the natural order
of the body and produces fascinating
effect for the moment. II quickens
the pulse and the breathing, ex-
cites the mind. leads to sudden
impulses which make men or
women feel for the time that they are
strong and happy, but in all that it
leads them from the natural course of
things Everything is carefully or
dered as TO time in the human body,
and IL this regulation be but preserved,
there is long stage Of life before
every living man. But nature will not
be nterfered with. Change that order;
put into the body substance like al
,ohol, which is foreign to it, which
luickens the pulse, the breathing. the
impulses, and the thoughts, and you
hasten the period of death. That is
he popularity of all, or nearly all,
hose persons who indulge largely in
'trong drink-they become premature
v old. And so, is it not common sense
md common science too when we see
fleets like these following misuse OF
he substance before us. that it is bet
er for every man, woman and child
lever to vary from the natural course :
# nature so as to induce these pleasur- !
BILE sensations and this quiclened life .
n the organic life? ] think you will
II be Of opinion that this is the right ,
nd proper view for everybody to take. :,
We are all born to drink no other
mid than water. Why should we ever !
epart from It? Why break the pledge !.
Thich nature has given, and make '
ian cease TO be what he was intended
. be? Not one bit of good ever comes !,
rom the trial When we take !,
ledge with nature. there is no service =
ourselves by the breaking of !
: This substance called alcohol goes |.
, form no tissue or give warmth. 1t =
nDerfectly dissolves everything in the =
'av OF food which comes in contact :,
18th il, interferes with the digestion -
ri the distribution of food, produces =
Use products in the body, disease in -
he organs of the body, sadness always y
tier time alteration of the mind. so !"
'at at least fourteen per cent of the y
1fortunatcs in our asvlums are there
'eanse of its presence. 1t makes
Seases. some of which are specifically al
; own and are called after it; and we 81
N calculate by figures what viii be I'll
e value of life in person who is IL