Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-11-23

Ia paper read by Miss Mary a. Carroll at tn,
Hancock County Teachers Association at Blue
hill, Oct. 81, 1873.
The child is father to the man. If th,
children and youth of to-day and the com
ing years be thoroughly taught the true
effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics
on the human system, then in thirty, forty
or sixty years, in this country, shall b,
seen temperate people, well governed
prosperous and happy If the opposite
reached
There are many thing in America which
have bearing on national prosperity, but
they all shrink into insignifcance in CON
parison to this. The teaching of temper
ance is building stone, which lies in th.
foundation of our nations life Let US b,
very careful to lay the foundation fair ant
strong that the building may stand.
Our rising youth may have all the sd
vantages which the loving care and wis,
foresight or the wealth and prestige o.
ehNf thi'hN' Nhh e'''' au' 60 NhN'' iu'i
prospects may be destroyed by the grea
twin evils, alcohol and tobacco.
According to the census of the Unitec
States GO. 600 men in our country are car
rled every year to the drunksrd's grave
The deaths of many times this number OF
men, women and children are caused A.
rectly or indirectly by ntemperance. Ant
death is not the greatest ensuing evil. Il
is often the only relief from the many
miseries of the drunkard's home.
Hunger for food is natural. Thirst for
water Is natural, because food and water
are required by the human race. and BY al
the tribes of inferior creatures. Tobacco
is not food; neither j. alcohol q drink
required by either men, animals Or Insects
Insects are Killed instantly By the first ap
plicatiun Of either.
Whence comes the thirst for strong
drink, the hunger for tobacco? From the
habit of using them. Why was the habit
formed? Because the innocent boy BE-.
lieved that there must be some advantage
OF good to be gained BY the use OF tobacco
for many older persons whose opinions
in other things. were accepted a. good and
wise. were using It. This belief caused
him TO undertake to adopt thu custom
At first he /. made very sick. Yet, assured
by the example of others that 1t can b.
done. he perseveres till the nausea is over
come and the habit formed, the hunger fol
tobacco is established.
The habit OF using alcoholic drinks Il
usually commenced hy the use OF 4wee,
cider, small beers or wine, gradually ex
tending to hard cider, stronger beers, rum,
gin and wh>key.
II l. ignorance of the actual effects oi
tobacco and alcohol On the human system
which caused the first steps to be taken.
After r certain point is passed the human
will has yielded lis control TO the habit
and the state Of slavery begins when the
person says; II cannot leave it Oh.
wish could know it is hurting me
But | cannot leave it Oh wish had
never begun. Bat now 1t Is too late.
Here an ounce Of prevention is worth q
ton of cure.
II the children and youth can be ,augh,
there is no good and much evil in tobacco
and all strong drinks, If before the habit
is formed they learn by the light of truth
the poisonous effects of both on the hu-
man system, they will never use them
yonng man in the western part Of our
State, while intoxicated killed his friend.
Placed in prison for life he became sick.
The physician said he had not long to live.
The governor signed a pardon, He was
taken 70 hi. sisters home TO die Her lit.
tie son was attending school where a good.
faithful teacher taught her pupils the
scientific reasons for abstaining from the
use OF tobacco and all intoxlcauts En-
thused By the teachers earnestness he told
at home what he learned at school. His
poor uncle heard, and with tears and sobs
said
"Oh, if this truth had only been taught
III ehS S'Aop! "Hth was ppG' iutSut
to-day have been happy and prosperous
man. But did not know 1t till learned
it myself, to my great sorrow and the en-
tire destruction of all my earthly hopes"
just before he died he said Tell all
the teachers TO teach the effects Of tobac-
co and strong drink, and be in hurry
about it, too"
Oh, parents. guardians of youth and
teachers of our schools, Let not the
words Of the poor dying man be uuheeded.
Let Us teach the scientific reasons for tenn
perance, and be In hurry about IT, too,
for time and opportunity are passing away.
The youth in the schools to-day will be in
the battle of life tomorrow. Give them a
knowledge of their own system and of the
poisonous effects of alcohol aud narcotics.
and that will. with Gods blessing on your
work, prove an armor in the battle, to
guard their lives from destruction.
How shall they learn without a teacher?
Oar school boys are stunting their growth
and drying up their brains with smoke.
They are degeneratlng IN scholarship so
that the percentage of girls who graduate
with honors is steadily gaining on that of
the boys. What shall we do? We must
bring the search-llghts of temperance in
struction to bear on the darkness We
must steadily food the mind with light.
The most dangerous reefs are sunken and
each young voyager is entirely unskilled in
the navigation of the new and unknown
coast. Better to build lighthouse on the
rocks than to have ready a life-boat to
send to the rescue of wicked and ruined
manhood. The lighthouse will surely
save many by warning them of their dan
ger. The life-boat may save some. Blu,
many will 60 down in the darkness from
the wrecked and broken ship before i,
reaches them.
All the territories and all the States, ex.
cept six, have temperance education law
May God grant that every teacher in every
school may be gifted from heaven to teach
rightly every branch and especially this
most vital one! The way is open. The
success of the work depends on the
teacher.
No one can teach what he does not be-
liava Ha cannot haliovo ourth;r0 tiIl \.