The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-27
DOMESTIC DRINKING USAGES.
Influence They Exert Over the Lives of
Children, Even to Their Utter Ruin.


Potent is the influence of home, in
innate the connection between man
hood and early years. During the period
in which the character is being formed,
the child knows no kingdom but his ia
theirs house. The angels on Jehovah's
footstool look not more submissive to
Him that sits upon the throne for a law
to direct, than does the child regard the
sentiments and practices that receive
the sanction of the fireside appreciation,
as the rule to guide him in intercourse
with the world.
Now, it is this far-reaching influence
allied with domestic drinking usages
that sends forth from almost every
family a drunkard. Trace the evil up to
its origin. There is a family party as
sembled-father, mother, brothers, Sis
tiers, friends, and little ones. Nothing
but the voice of mirth and kindness is
heard; the song, the story, the COM
mingling of social affection. And is
there danger here? True, the glass is
circulating, but then its contents are
little more than tasted. Yes, there is
these happy ones may seem, the most
deadly work is being done; an influence
unseen and subtle is wreatninG itself
like powerful serpent around the af-
fections of these young hearts, and
bringing them under a most degrading
bondage. The children are being
taught that it is safe and fashionable
Ia drink vybila IN opDa+;+a Sc l,o;,or = ~
iginated and cherished which may vet
bring a dark cloud over the scene now so
bright, and sink to perdition those now
sc fair and promising. When this awful
result is realized, parents often console
themselves with the thought that,
wherever their children contracted the
love for liquor, they never received
from them any example but that of the
most moderate indulgence. Never can
we forget the saying of a weeping Sis
ter. We had called to see young man
who was recovering from a fit of deli.
rum tremens. There he lay, the perfect
wreck of what he formerly was; a
bankrupt in business, excluded from
church membership, and forsaken by
his young wife and his infant children.
AS we withdrew from the affecting spec
tacle, sister who chung to him amid all
his prohigacy said: "Ah, sir, but it is
a comfort that he never saw drunken
ness under fathers roof" With a sor-
rowful heart we pondered the words:
"He never saw drunkenness under his
fathers roof" That may have been,
but it WIS under that fathers roof that
he first learned to drink; in that IA
theirs house and at that fathers table
the appetite for drink was formed. And
to that father the son might have said
1T was your hand that passed to me the
first glass, and this is your work."
To become a drunkard it is not neces-
sary to see drunkenness. Only allow
children to drink, only let them see it
used and commended at home, and
when they go abroad into society, con-
forming to it's insidious customs, apply
the instruction they have received I'M
der the parental roof, and between the
sanction of home and the mistaken
kindness of friends, an appetite may be
originated which all the remonstrances
of friends and respect for character
may not be able to counterfeit or sub
due. The appetite started under the
parental roof has been secretly gaining
strength, and now comes out from It's
concealment too powerful to be de-
stroyed by those who called it into be-
ing. If the young are to be saved, there
must be a crusade against the drinking
usages. What an argument for such
crusade is the following incident taken
from an exchange:
"a young gentleman who had never
been out in the world a great deal, and
had never attended banquet, was in
vited with his father to attend a very
fashionable one in certain city. Many
kinds of wines and liquors were served,
as is customary at such places. Seated
at the table by the side of his father,
the waiter approached the young man
with liquors and wines, and asked him
what he would have. Somewhat en-
barrassed, and not knowing what to
say, he thought awhile, looked around,
and at last SAID to the waiter: "I'll take
what father does"
"The waiter passed on to the father.
He had heard the answer of his boy.
Up to this time he had been a moderate
drinker. His boys answer to the wait
er woke him up to the fearful RESPONSE
bility upon him as he was about to
make choice, and brought him face to
face with question, upon the decision
of which depended largely the future
moral welfare of his son.
"What should he do? What should
he take?" Aroused fully to his respon-
sible position, more than he had ever
been before, he said, with emphasis:
"Pll takewater." The battle was fought
the victory won, and the destiny of his
boy as a man Of temperate habits fixed
so far as he had the power to do it by
his example. The father became u total
Nbstainer, and his son was saved to a
sober life."-Nationa Temperance Adj
vocate.
Treating Inebriates in Paris.
For the last eight months a special