The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-27
CONCERNING DRUNKENNESS.
Reform Furthered Not by Lectures,
bit by Better Industrial Conditions.

Christian Advocate
In one of her addresses before n temper
ance convention, the leader of the temper
ance movement, Miss Frances r. Wharf,
declared among other things that poverty
causes drunkenness. She might have aGded
that drunkenness causes poverty, but tnat
was not the side of the shield upon which
she desired her audience TO look at the mo
ment She wished to impress upon tteIr
minds the truth, too seldom thought of, that
poverty does lead its victim into the par
room and down to drunkenness. II 1t We're
possible to give all men fair chance lhere
would surely be less drunkenness.
Those who live in the smaller cities or
towns know little of the horrors OF poverty
a. they exist in the great cities of Europe
End of this continent. We do nave some
squalId homes. homes sometimes SOU lld by
inheritance, sometimes because or bad man
agement upon the part Of the woman VINO
has upon her shoulders the duty of making
the home repulsive. A few years ago
of New York. city and made an. effort to
teach the wives and mothers how 10 cook
simple food in palatable manner. But Ter
efforts resulted in failure; they would have
none of her new-fangled ways, and she was
obliged to abandon the effort They pre-
ferred filth and squalor to cleanly, cheerful
homes.
The men and women who take the boys
and girls out of such wratched travesties up
on homes and train them from infancy in
ways of self-reliant, helpful industry, 90
great and lasting work, one that VIII re-
plucxing human pearls from the mire of the
gutter and cleansing them for the Master
use. when the stately marble tiliSlSs nave
crumbed into dust these trophies Will re-
main, as far from destruction as in the pc
ginning. 1t is Godlike work, this task OF
raising bright boys and girls from the curse
of chronic poverty and drunkenness, and
training them to lead better lives.
When a man has no work and no 1000
for his children he is not going to be saved
by lectures. Even if his poverty be his own
fault. as is very often. the case, 1t VIII nor
improve matters any by reading the -rlot
act" to him. He should not be coddied ana
given money and made to believe tnat Tor
tune has treated him badly, but there is no
reason why he should be deprived of the
sympathy of others who might do no pet
ter If they were subjected to as severe
temptation. 1t is a mistake to suppose that
he could get bread and meat Tor the little
ones as easily as he can get whisky Tor
himself 1t ought to be true, but 1t is not.
The pennileSS man can always manage 70
get a drink, more is the pity. friend
is always near.
Temperance reformers need not relax
their efforts to enforce law. Nevertheless
they will do well If they advocate fair
days wage for fair days work every
where and in every department OF labor
such daily wages will enable every work
er to support his children and to bring them
up amid decent surroundings Inc I'M
christian proposition that everyone must
look out for himself should be .plucked up
by the roots. The community should allow
no one to suffer unjustly.
By entering the wretched homes that are
found IN every locality ana taking the emil III,
dren out before they are contaminated; by
training the girls to be good housekepers:
by insisting upon the right of every human
being to pure air, decent lodging, ample
words and helpful actions temperance peo-
pie may do considerable to decrease the
evils of drunkenness. The home is usually
mot always-the making of the man. II
what they might be, the millennium would
be Il good deal nearer than II IS.