Natchitoches populist., 1898-06-10
SERPENT in the Glass.

Serpent in the Glass.
Many Of the famous advocates o
temperance are dying off, but there i
one trumpet-tongued orator who con
tinues to sound his tocsin in ever.
house that contains Bible. 1t is th
diVinely-inspired preacher who utter
this tremendous warning-"Look no
on the wine when 1t is ruddy, when i
glVeth its color in the cup, when il
goeth down smoothly; for at the last
1t biteth like a serpent and stingett
like an adder" Young man, listen tc
that loud and loving voice before you
touch the glass of champagne; good
woman, stop and think what you are
about before you mix that big bowl
OF punch for your party; father, be
careful how you put that sly serpent
on your table, for some Of your boys
may get stung to death!
The serpent quality of all intoxicants
lies in their deceptiveness. Wine is
a mocker; Whosoever Is deceived there
by Is not wise" The drinker fancies
that his glass is doing him good and
promoting his health. Instead of add
Ing to his strength it excites him for a
time and the reaction leaves him the
weaker.
Thousands Of people call for liquors
at the restaurants, or set them on their
tables to promote digestion; and
have known persons to cling to this
failacy after alcohol had poisoned their
stomachs. The heroic DR.. Living
stone of Africa-a physician himself
asserted that he could stand any
and every hardship best by using
water and water only" / had a con.
versation this week with Nansen, and
thanked him for his published testi
mony that during his exploration OF
Greenland, he found alcohol of nc
benefit to himself or his men.
Another deceptive quality in intoxi.
cants is that they steal march or
those who use them, and an appetite
for them is formed before one suspects
1t. The reason Is that every glass oil
liquor increases the desire for another
glass. A tuIlbler of water or milh
satisfies thirst; draught Of liquor in
creases thirst. This fact makes 1t SO
difficult to tamper with wine or brandy
without becoming addicted to it-and
in too many cases enslaved by it. Ar
eminent minister Of my acquaintance
began to use port wine as tonic; IL
woke up terrible appetite and moi
long ago he had to resign his charge
under cloud of disgrace! Women in
poor health often resort to alcoholic
medicines" OF sly "stiffeners," and
become victims of the serpent before
they are aware. could startle my
readers if / dared to mention some oi
the deplorable cases.
To break the terrible habit and tc
shake off the serpent requires such ef-
fort that few are permanently re.
formed. Some surrender to the in.
evitable and go over the cataract with
eyes open to their doom. A young
man said to friend OF mine: This
awful drink has used up my money,
ruined my health, and almost killed
my parents. 1t will soon kill me, and
send me to HE'LL I know it, and yet
The habit is so strong that l cannot
stop" And he did not stop; yet when
he began to sip his wine, he never
lreamed that he would die wretched
,ot. OF all the deceiyers that betray
,ody and soul to damnation, none is
10 alluring an Gnsnaring as the glass.
1t Is strange that parents-many
christian parents-will allow it to
ome into their homes, and will pro-
Tide 1t for guests. 1t Is strange that, ),
n spite of all The miseries suffered by |
he wives OF drunkards, so many
women are Wiling 70 marry young |
nen who are In the habit of taking
ocial glass; they are playing with
iper; II their hearts are stung with
gony it Is their own fault. No young
7oman should ever accept the hand
/ any young man If that hand ever
ouches an intoxicant. This stand
esolutely taken by our women would
lcrease the number Of teetotallers i'm
,ensely. If the mentioned
nings are strange, 1t Is stranger still
lat churches, Sunday schools and pull
It's do not RIM, out oftener and more
ehemently this heaven-sent tocsin.-
Look not on the wine! Look not on
le wine! 1t stingeth like a serpent
nd biteth Ike an adder!"--Rev. Theo-
ore L. Cuyler.
A bill has been introduced into the
entucky legislature, now in session.
Senator Thomas of Bourbon to de-
ease the Dena]ty for selling linuor In