Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-04-26
INTEMPERANCE


pupil Of the South Milford Public School
and is the thirdof series. which viii b
published Of which are from the pens o
scholars of this SCHOOL,
In speaking of intemperauce oui
thoughts naturally turn TO the use
of alcoholic liquors. We may be in.
temperate in many other ways, but
none are so harmful as that of the
use of alcohol. Alcohol is made by
fermenting any substance containing
sugar, thus converting sugar which
is so wholesome and useful into that
poison which destroys so many lives
and makes so many Of our promis-
ing young men nothing but vaga.
bonds. Alcohol is found in all kinds
of liquors; thus to say one man
drinks only the light liquors as beer,
ale or wine, while another drinks
whiskey is only to say they all drink
the same poison and are subject to
the same danger. Neither does it
make any difference where the liquor
is obtained it is just as poisonous in
a fashionable saloon or in q drug
store as in the lowest grog shop
This danger which turks in the cup
is many sided, it not only makes
wretches and vagaboEds of men but
it destroys the soul, for the Bible
says, "no drunkard shall inherit the
kingdom of heaven" Alcohol af-
fects all parts of the body. the circu-
lation is quickened and this causes
the heart to beat faster and to wear
out sooner. Alcohol also effects the
brain; here it has a more serious eff
feet than on any other organ The
brain absorbs more of the poison and
on account of its delicate nature it
takes less to iniure it. One Of the
chief characteristics of alcohol is its
appetite for itself The first glass
calls for another, and so on until in
toxicating liquors become the one
great longing of the whole being.
It is on account of this that the
"Band of Hope" "Loyal Legions"
and other societies try to teach the
children that safe rule "Touch not
handle not, taste not" Worse than
this, the alcoholic craving may be
transmitted from father to son.
Young people find themselves
dragged down by this terrible appe-
tite. A person who inherits this
awful disease is a more helpless slave
than the one from whom he inherits
it, or one who has acquired it by
habit.
There is a story told of General
Scott which illustrates the result of
dram drinking. When he was in
command at Rock Island the cholera
broke out, he gave various iniunc |
tions in his order as to sobriety and |
cleanliness, but none as regarded in
temperance. Now the commanding
general knew that intemperance did
more to spread the calamity than
anything else; so without orders
from General Scott commanded that
every soldier who should be found
intoxicated should dig a grave at
suitable burying place large enough
for his own reception as such a grave
sooner or later cannot fail to be
wanted by himself or drunken com
panion. This is what the moderate
drinkers of to-day are doing, simply
graves for themselves; the
first glass is the first shovel full and
the next the second, and so on until
at last they are laid into that grave
with the remark: che has filed
drunkard's grave"
There is an old saying, "that if
you will let liquor alone it will not
bother you" this is a mistake. It I
does, or it should, concern everyone
who has a desire for the welfare of {
his country. Alcohol is the cause
Of more crimes, more poverty, and I
more sorrow than anything else on
she face of this earth. 1t is the great /
EST workmen in filling our prisons.
)ur almshouses and our insane asyl- /
inns. It is reported by the prison I
association of New York that seven I
iighths of the prisoners of that State '
re due either directly or indirectly 5
0 the use of strong drink. Alec
lolic drinks weaken the body as well 4
s the mind. When the Sandwich c
stands we're discovered the natives h
gere strong and active and could o
tand almost any exposure, but later n
intoxicating liquors were introduced k
nd at present they cannot be CON- n
AIRED to their former selves. IL
The greatest danger that threatens "
ur Nation to-day is not from with O.
ut but from within.-from indiffer- s.
nee, Ignorance, disIoyalty and in Sc
in our midst. or all = Z,
lese intemperance is BY far the
reatest enemy. Il
The political questions which have al
orne so near running this country " "
ave been and are still the great le
pics of The day, but Of this awful h. ~
49,, s,.4.-., -, ......1e It'll = -