Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-01-16
At "a Fearful Cost.

of forming habit of drinking often
and immoderately. 1t is an appetite
which seems to be not easily controll-
ed even by men of good nature who
would like to treat other people we'll II
they do abuse themselves.
The risk a man takes when he drinks
his first glass is something past all
computation, for if it were not for the
first drink he would nerer reach the
state of drunkenness, and when once
drunk the great balance wheel of his
whole being-the brain-is turned away
from its proper course and any disas-
trous result may be expected. With
the temporary dethronement of reason,
from strong drink. some lie in death
! like stupor or wallow in the mire, like
very hogs. unconscious of the dangers
that may surround them or the filth
| that covers them: taking every risk
| that the open street and public high
way may expose them to. Many of
| these are young men, drinking not only
at the risk of such dangers to them
selves, but at the far greater risk of
bringing disgrace and shame upon their
fathers name, sorrow to his heart and
untold agony to the dear old mothers
who have spent the best part of their
| lives in caring for and watching after
these loved but hayward boys. How
sad the picture! How past all earthly
consolation the poor, weary, heart
burdened old people who have to look
upon it,! May God pity the young man
who is so weak that he is willing to
risk his mothers happiness and his
fathers good name for Il glass of Ii
quor. He is walking in thorny path
and his feet are very near the precipice
of eternal ruin.
Sad as this picture is; there is sad
der still Read this little clipping, cut
from the daily paper just as the grand
New Year had fairly dawned upon the
world when all hearts should be full of
new and high resolves for the future:
"TUSCUMBIA. ALA, Jan. 4.-Last night
Jake Kilroy, residing near here, went
home drunk. lie retired to bed with
his lighted pipe in his mouth. The
bed clothing took fire and the house
was burned. Kilroy endeavored to es-
cape, but was overcome by smoke and
roasted alive His wife, in an adjoin-
ing room, escaped and rescued one
child, but two others, aged 3 and
years, were burned to DEATH
Think of it, fathers, into whose homes
tender, trusting little ones have come
to brighten your leisure hours and with
their fresh, happy little hearts help
YOU to bear the burdens of the day
think of them, too, looking to you for
comforts and sustenance, depending
upon your efforts to keep them alive
and happy in the dear home nest.
Look upon this picture of death and
think it was only the FIRST drink that
led the way to all this mournful end
ing of life mis-spent, and caused two,
innocent. clinging, contiding little ones
to suffer the unspeakable torture of
being burned to death. Three immor-
tai souls hurled into eternity without
thought and all for a drink of liquor.
A poor, sad widow left with an orphan
child to battle through life as best she
can with the ever returning scene OF her
1. hn,. I'M Ii
tie ones perishing in theflames that he
himself had kindled by his carelessness
and sin. They are strangers to us, but
that does not make the sad story any
less sad 1t ought to make us every
one, on Bonded knee, ask God to give
us greater strength to go forth in His
name, and do more this year than we
have ever done to rescue the perish
ing"
The daily papers are so full of heart
rending scenes brought about by the
use of liquor in the hands of men who
are pledged to stand by and protect
the ones dependent on them, that some
times III SeeIlS dllllOSt uScItoS W Wy W
do ANYTHING. We work so hard, and
vet can see so little accomplished by it
and the work of destruction going
steadily on, but let US not be discour-
aged. there is another view to take of
tire situation. If the older men do not
and will not reform. still there is an
army of noble young boys keeping
proud step to the march of the grand
white ribbon host in our land, and they
will not be long in showing to the
world what noble, temperate, young
manhood can do to elevate and purify
the whole atmosphere of society.
May every white ribbon woman in
Mississippi throughout the glad new
year of 1894 feel the Finger touch OF
divine love- resting upon her every day
as she goes about her Masters work,
and may she not be satisfied without
great efforts put forth especially for
the young people of her acquaintance.
1t does not cost much to speak "a word
for Jesus" and who can tell how much
good may be accomplished by just one
word spoken to some dear, young soul
when, it may be. he has waited and
longed for such help and needed only
that TO encourage him and give him a