Middletown transcript., 1897-01-23
TEMPERANCE GLEANINGs.

We hear much about the peculiar
perils of this nation. The liquor-traf-
fc, Romanism, foreign immigration,
corrupt literature, and other evils are
pointed out as peculiar dangers. And
so they are. But it is to be feared that
we do not begin to realize how largely
the remedy for all these evils lies in the
training of the children. If the peril
of foreign immigration is to be met with
an adequate remedy, the children of
immigrants must be educated properly.
If the peril of the liquor-trafic shall be
overcome, it will be through the train
ing of those who are now young. In
fact, almost every thing depends on
this. The whole nation should turn
its attention to the study of childhood
and find out the wisest methods of
dealing with the young. If this were
done in the home, in the church, in
the school, and in the entire country,
a grand harvest would soon follow. 1t
is a study worthy of parents, teachers,
legislators, ministers, statesmen, and
all those who love the republic and de-
sire to promote the highest interests of
the race.
One reason why it is difficult to drive
out the saloon is that it is the only par
lor and cIub-room thousands Of poor
men have. 1t is always ready to re-
.ceive them. 1t is lighted and warmed
and usually furnished with chairs.
The floor is not covered with fire car
pet which the poor man would be in
moral dread of soiling. Men who have
no comforts at home are not attracted
by luxurious furniture such as is
found in our best churches. Finery
repels them, but rude Accommodations
attract them. Thousands of young
men shut up in cramped quarters at
boarding houses have been drawn into
saloons to spend their evening hours
where they can meet their companions
even when as yet they had formed no
bad habits and had no thought of be-
coming habitual drinkers. The DEVILS
snares are planned with consummate
skill and adjusted to the conditions Of
human nature with ingenuity worthy
of a better cause.
An eminent physician in the west
recently delivered telling lecture on
temperance before this students of the
college from which he had been grad
uated twenty-years ago. He said that
W hen he was a student there were con-
nected with a daily newspaper in that
city ten bright, jolly men, editors and
reporters, nine of whom drank habit
ually, but not to excess; the tenth,
reporter, would not touch liquor.
When out late at night, gathering
items of news, he would come in
drenched with rain and shivering with
cold, no persuasion could induce him
to drink. After twenty years, three
OF the habitual drinkers had died from
the effects of liquor and six were occu-
pying inferior positions in newspaper
offices. Bad habits had kept them
from rising to distinction. Tne one
who abstained totally from drink,
although he had not half the natural
ability of at least three Of the others
rose steadily, until now he is editor-in
chief of leading paper in city on the
Atlantic seaboard. This story might
appear to be exaggerated, but for the
fact that nearly all observing men are
acquainted with similar cases. The
mischief wrought by rum is every
where present. In every cosamunity
wrecks of humanity are found whose
ruin was wrought by the samedestroyer.
Yet this destroyer is tolerated. licensed
by the State, encouraged by respecta-
BILE newspapers, and supported by po-
litical leaders. Before it business men,
political parties, legislative bodies, and
courts of justice cringe like spaniels.