The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-01-22

UUU,UUU W1lCl rum SOSIS THIS country
in year, In the destruction of grain
and sugar and the supporting of the
| paupers and invalids and the criminals
which strong drink causes, is only .
small part of what is paid for this ex-
pensive song of the drunkards.
Again, this song of the drunkards is
a multitudinous song-not a solo, not
a duet, not quartet, not a sextet; but
millions on millions are this hour sing
ing it. Do not think that alcoholism
has this field all to itself. 1t has pow
erful rivals in the intoxicants of other
nations; hasheesh, and arrack, and
pulque, and opium, and quavo, and
mastic, and wedro. Every nation,
barbaric as well as civilized, has it's
pet intoxicant. The song of the
drunkards is rendered in Chinese,
Hindoo, Arabian, Assyrian, Persian
Mexican-ye, all the languages.
All zones join in it. No conti-
nent would be large enough for
the choir gallery if all those who
have this libretto in their hands
should stand side by side to chant the
international chorus. Other throngs
are just learning the eight notes of
|
mastered by the orchestras in full
voice under the batons in full swing.
| All the must clans assembled at Dussel-
dorf, or Berlin, or Boston Peace jubi-
lee, rendering symphonies, requiems
| or grand marches of Mendelssohn, or
Wagner, or Chopin, or Handel, were
Insignificant in numbers as compared
with the innumerable throngs, host
beside host, gallery above gallery, who
are now pouring forth the song of the
drunknrd.
Again, the song of the drunkards is
a suggestive song. You hear nursery
refrain, nd right away you think of
your childhood home, and brothers
and sisters with whom you played, and
motherf long since gone to rest. You
hear national air, and you think of
the encampment of 1868, and the still
night on the river bank, and the camp
fires that shook their reflections up and
down the faces of the regiment. You
hear and old church tune, and you are
reminded of the revival scenes amid
which you were brought to God.
Nothing so brings up associations as
a song sung or played upon instru-
of suggestion. AS you hear it on the
street quite late some night, you begin
to say to yourself, II wonder if he has
mother? Is his wife waiting for him?
Will his children be frightened when
he enters the front door and staggers,
whOoping up the stairs? What chance
is there for young man started so
early on the down grade? In what
business will he succeed? How long
before that man will run through his
property? / wonder how he got so far
astray? Can any influence be welded
to fetch him back? He must have got
into bad company who led him off. "
So you soliloq uize and guess about
this man whose voice you hear on the
street under the starlight.
Notice that the second noun of my
text is in the plural. Not "drunkard,"
but ''drunkards. 1t would be dull
work to sing that song solitary and
alone. 1t is generally a chorus. They
arc in groups. On that downward
way there must be companionship.
Here and there is a man so mean as
always to drink alone, but generally
men, big-hearted men, drinking at bar
mortified to take the beverage unac-
companied. There must be some one
with whom to click the rim of the
glasses, some ones health to propose,
some sentiment to toast. There must
be- two, and still better if four, and
still better if six, to give zest to the
song of the drunkards. Those who
have gone down could mention the
name of at least one who helped them
down. Generally it is some one who
was a little higher up in social
life or in financial resources.
Our Cfriend felt f1attered to have
an invitation from one of superior
name. Each one drank not only when
he felt like it, but when the other felt
like it. Neither wanted to seem lack
ing in sociability when he was invited.
So 100, 900 men every year are treated
into hell. Together are they man
acled of evil habit, together they
travel toward their doom, together
they make merry over the cowardice
or puritanical sentiment of those who
never indulge, together they join their
voices in the song of the drunkards
If the one proposes to stop, the other
will not let him stop. When men are
getting down themselves they do not
want their associates to turn back
Those who turn back will be the scott
and caricature of those who keep on,
and there will be conspiracy to bring
them back to they old places and their
old environment, and SO have them re-
new the song of the drunkards.
Again, the song of the drunkards is
easily learned. Through what long
and difficult drill one must go to sue
coed as an elevated and inspiring
singer. Emma Abbott, among the
most eminent cantatrices that ever en-
chanted academies of music, told me
on an ocean ships deck, in answer to |
my question:: ''Whither are you
bound?" II am going to Berlin and
Paris to study music" WHAT" Isaid,
latter all your world-renowned sue |
cesses in music, going to studyP"
Then she told me through what hard
ships, through what self-denials, |
through what almost killing fatigues |
she had gone in order to be a |
singer, and that when, in her earlier |
days, great teacher of music had told |
her there were certain notes she could |
never reach, she said: II will reach |
Them" and through doing nothing |
else but practice for Eve years she did |
reach them. Oh, how many heroes |
and heroines of musical achievement |
There are songs which are easy to |
hear, but most difficult to render. |
When Handel, with a new oratorio, |
entered a room where a group of |
musicians had assembled and said: |
Gentlemen, you all read music?" |
They said: "Yes, we play in church."
Very WE'LL" said the great COM
poser, "play this" But the perform