The record-union., 1896-07-04
The Country Saloon.

Is not the country saloon sad, de-
plorable and society Lowering feature
Of our community, that by it's natural
formation, aided by mans thrift and
industry, has been made a veritable
garden spot in this valley Of ours, lying,
as it does, within the ''ins and outs" Of
the bends Of the Sacramento River?
Beautiful homes in the midst of pro-
ductive farms scattered here and there,
containing all that goes to complete
happiness, as far as strangers eye
can note. But the most Of these homes
are not without their skeletons. They
are not hung in closets, but they are
walking advertisements of the plague
of the community, the ever-present sa-
loon, which casts it's blighting influence
in a pestilential form from home to
home until mothers sigh as their sons
leave their presence, and for what and
where are the young mems steps turn
ing? 1t is the alluring saloon with its
paralyZing strong drink, debaSlng card
table and foul cigarette. He meets men
of maturer years there. who set an
example Of debauchery. Even minors
are proprietors, and a minor can fill
the cup for his youthful associate, who,
by days of toll, has earned a few dol
lars, enough to Jingle in his pocket,
that before has been fiat only when a
stray dollar has been donated to the
loved son by his fond parent, who is
looking forward to the time, the near
and now dim future. when John or
Willie will be a man and earn mans
wages; hoping and wishing not that
he will aspire to the Presidential seat,
but be-best of allan upright, honest,
clean, well-balanced citizen, one whom
his neighbors can respect.
How mothers dote on their sons!
How we try by advice and counsel to
pilot them over the formative period
between Is and % Seven years Of
hope, prayer and anxious watching for
the many mothers of our land, who
have been patient through the pangs of
maternity, accomplishing through the
trials Of rearing of a large family, and
the never ceaSing round Of household
cares, as the critical age arrives be-
tween her physical sufferings and men
tai anguish caused by the wave of evil
which surrounds her family; her sons
coming in with bleared eyes, shaking
FORM foul breath, wavering speech,
thoughts when uttered in words are
fraught with lewdness, profanity and
general disrespect for parents and
all elderly people. Their appearance SO
unlike the gentle lady mother that she
turns in sorrow and disgust She knows
surrounding influences are getting the
better of her untiring efforts, and her
sons are fast speeding over the wrong
track.
1t is no wonder the mothers are hag-
gard and old-looking while yet in the
prime of life, with that far away, wish
full look that suggests to the on-looker
world-weary, tired feeling, as though
the desire was for a release from this
surfeit of evil, which is running her
brightest prospects.
Is there no earthly relief while yet
she lives? One thing is certain; but
few years like the past five will leave
US with a. set of native sons incompe-
tent to form laws, much less enforce
them. Mothers should vote, if for only
one thing-the overthrow of the coun-
try saloon. They are nuisance and
disgrace to the neighborhoods; their
offenses are rank and smell to heaven.
Every mother should ask for the white
mans privilege, to be~able to do what
is now denied her-to cast q vote and
see the change that will be made in
domestic happiness and well doing
the fountain from which purity and
manhood should fow Give her a
vote, and the misnomer, weaker yes
SELL will fail in its application, and
equality will keep the balances even.
Then there will not be heard exclama-
lions of regret from mothers that they
ever gave birth to son." or would
that Tom or George had been taken
away ere their young lives were pol
Iuted" Then mothers would not settle
back in an apathetic state of indiffer-
ence and say, What cannot be cured
must be endured" and 1, the weaker
vessel" am yet strong enough only
through hope that for me the change
I so desire will not be long delayed in
its coming We that are unfortunate
or fortunate, as the case may be, to
be without sons feel a degree of SYM
patty for those who are so blessed.
and must help each other, and if posi-
BILE our stronger half''-the powerful
nren-if not by votes, by earnest plead
ings that they will look into this mat
ter and abate this crying evil-the
maintenance of the country saloon.
Constant dripping will wear a stone"
ONE OF THE MOTHERS.