The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Nov. 20, 1S99-PrOverbs xiii, 20-35-
Woes of Intenperance.

Iraels poet-king and prodigy OF wisdom sets
himself to the task Of painting the drunkards
portrait. 1t is a faithful likeness. and horrid
because faithful. The royal artist persists in his
undertaking, though his canvas grows lurid and
frightful under each successive stroke OF the
pencil. His picture has proved a veritable dan
ger signal, flashing its warning color upon sue
cessive generations for three thousand years. Its
red light has proved a powerful deterrent to
multiutdes. Nowhere in Literature is the woe.
the sorrow. the folly. the fate of the drunkard
so powerfully depicted.
That such a picture could be painted thirty
centuries ago sufficiently proves the antiquity Of
the vice. Drunkenness is no modern sin or mere
accident OF our civilization. II is as old at Noah.
and older. intoxicating liquors undoubtedly in
famed the race before the flood. and led on 10
that nameless depravity which had to be drowned
out in that awful judgment. And each succeed
ing generation has suffered the crushing weight
OF this dreadful woe. each has been burned.
bitten and poisoned by this vice; from each has
burst the sorrowfuI and despairing interjections,
Old as it is, oiomon' picture is the very
similitude OF the drunkard OF to-day. Three
thousand years have not sufticed to cnange the
causes or effects of intemperance. STUDY the
successive strokes OF this masterful de!ineation.
Those who tarry at WINE by the increase OF the
powerful and subtle appetite are compelled to
seek stronger p~otations mixed wine) The
STdGdllOu IiOiH lEnb inc u Y Hlhr II "A
highly alcoholized wine, with its eyes or beads,
Is inevitable. Then follow the facial signs Of
inebriety ~rendness of eyes): next quarreisome-
ness. causeless wounds. and the inhaming OF
sexual passion. Finally, incipient dementia.
which makes the drunkard oblivious &c personal
danger and to indignities visited upon him by
hooting mob or officer Of lava dementia in
which, however, the appetite persistently asserts
itself, the worm dieth not, the fire Is not
Quenched. All Is forgotten. all is lost: but among
the debris OF mind, heart and manhood. the
conquersr stalks,
sA~I oarotb nopokt
For the awful ruin he hath wrought"
This Is no pleasing fancy sketch Of genius, nor
happy aesthetical study: but IL deserves the close.
self and his ~nelghbor. No Christian can push
this picture ronchalantly aside unless his Bible
keeper No truly philanthroplc spirit. Christian
or not, can turn with Indifferent GOODNESS from
this inspired canvas It pictures the all
every one who processes 10 love his species. And
IL neither Christianity nor philanthropy is suf-
fcient 10 bring this Nation to the point OF deal
ing with this evil in some practical manner. self
interest, self-defense viii. The traffic In ardent
spirits produces a deteriorated manhood. insan-
ity. pauperism. crime and death-a catalogue Of
most undesirable products
TEACHERS LANTERN.
When a party OF American tourists In Syria
broke camp one morning. not a twelvemonth ago.
the dragoman found a Gead adder under the
couch on which a young lady OF the company
had slept. With comInendable foresight the mat
ter was kept a profound secret from ner. lest her
rest for the remainder OF the journey should be
broken. There is a very live adder lurking dan
gerously near the youth OF America to-day. II il
no part OF Kindness to keep them In ignorance
OF II.
But the instruction OF the schoolhouse must be
supplemented by that OF the church and the
home 10 make IL most effective. Parents. teach
efs, pastors. use your opportunities, Warn. en-
treat. In season. out OF season.
Nasty puts IL well when he describes the liquor
traffic as IAN organized hunt for virgin
gfa - chs - - D. - "A human "A AE
many steady and profitable customers are going
10 be created as possible. The treating custom.
playing at games OF chance for the drinks. eat
ing the dry, salt via Is OF the free-iunch table.
ali are encouraged because they increase the de-
mand for liquors. Thus more and more human
beings are caught In the liquor trafnc machine