The Progress., 1897-01-16
Is paid for this expensive song OF the
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oHuDkArQS.
1t Is . Song OF the Multitude.
Again, this song OF the dcunkards IS
multitudinous song-not solo, not
duet, not quartet, not q sextet, but
millions on millions are this hour singing
It, Do not think that alcoholism has this
field all 70 itself 1t has powerful rivals
in the intoxicants of other nations-hesh-
eesh and arrack and pulque and opium and
quavo and nastic and wedro. Every ma
ton, barbaric as we'll as civilized, has ITS
pet intoxicant This song of the drunkards
is rendered in Chinese, Hindoo, Arabian,
Assyrian, Persian, Mexican-yea, all the
languages. All zones join it. No CONT
nent would be large enough for the choir
gallery II all those who have this ibretto
In their hands should stand side by side to
chant the international chorus Other
throngs are just learning the eight notes
Of this deathful music which is already
mustered by the orchestras In full voice I'M
der the batons in full swing. All the mu-
sicians assembled at Dusseldorf or Berlin
or Boston peace Jubilee, rendering sym
phonies, 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
drunkards
Years ago, standing before a bulletin
board In New York on the night Of pres
idential election day, as the Dews came In
and the choice OF the American people was
finally announced, there were people in
the streets who sang roistering and frivo-
lous songs. But in the Street one man, In
deep, strong, resonant voice, started, to the
tune of cold Hundred Praise God,
from whom all blessings flow and soon
all up and down the street the voices Joined
in the doxology. May God speed the day
when the song Of rescue and salvation shall
drown with an overwhelming surge this
mighty song of the drunkards!
A susa c.tive Song.
| Again, the sony of the drunkards Is a
suggestive song. You hear q nursery re-
frain, and right away you think of your
childhood home, and brothers and sisters
| with whom you played. and mother, 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 campf1res that shook their reflec-
lions up and down the faces of the regi-
ment You hear On old church tune, and
you are reminded Of the revival scenes
amid which you were brought to God.
Nothing SO brings up associations Us O
song sung or played upon Instrument,
and the drunknrds' song Is full of sugges-
ton AS you hear 1t on the street quite
late some night you begin to say to your
| SEX: WODQeF II No mas u lACtHerG As MS
wife waiting for him? Will his children be
| frightened when he enters the front door
and staggers, whooping, up the stairss
What chance is there for that young man,
| started 80 early on the down grader In
what business will he succeed? How long
before that man will run through his prop
erty? wonder how he got SO far astray?
Can any influence be welded to fetch him
| backf He must have got into bad COM
pany who led him off," So you soliloquize
| 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
"drunknrds It would be dull work to
| sing that song solitary and alone. 1t Is
generally chorus They are in groups.
On that downward way there must be
oompanionship. Here and there Is n man
SO mean rs always to drink alone, but gen.
erous mon, big hearted men, drinking at
bar or In restaurant or In clubhouse, feel
mortified to take the beverage unaccom-
panied. There must be some one with
whom to click the rim Of the glasses, some