The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-03-23
Wet. U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ L. HOBBS
TEMPERANCE EDUCATION.
Can the Dangers and Evils iron Alcohol
Be Taught Successfully in
Common Schools!

In approaching this question: we
must not fail TO consider the very
positive eff cts on a cnild's chara't-
sr that are produced insensloly byI
the circumstances OF the particular
circle of society in which he lives.
The child is not aware ot the modl-
fication which he undergoes. But
if he enters a new environment or
returns to an old one, il is revealed
to him as he grows older, by the In
slant pleasures or averslons that ne
feels how gradually and silently his
character has been modified Ana
il is the same with ten perance prln-
ciples. The difficulty with teaching
the nature and effects OF alcohol In
common schools has never been IN
the enunciation OF the lofty, general
principle of temperance, but the ap-
plication Of the principle to the par
|ticular case. when the boy becomes
the yoang man, tempted by the mis-
Ierable American habbit Of treat
Iinpu when his action will depend
lunon whether there Is something
within, to vibrate in sympathy with
that without, prenatal influence,
John b. Cough used to say that all
Grunkards are made before 80 year.
lof age. / hold that, owing to th'
scientific forces of psychic ataylsn
land prenatal influences, that drunk
ards are made before birth: i.e tina
Icbildren are either born with good
Sound, healthy nervous systems, NJ
ted to carry them through the worl'
successfully snd over the crises tina
will assail them from alcohol, viii
Its potential capacities and its ac
etive, imperative, irresistible de
mands; or in the other hand, OWN
Ito having mothers who, while neve neve
intoxicated in their lives. have dui
ling their pregnancy, always use
1.-the poison alcohol in what Is cor
ventional,y termed moderation
have been born degenerates, VII
neither Judgment nor will to NEE
dtbe craving for alcohol, or wit
moral will and fiber to enable thei
Ito saw "no," when asked to partak
of the drug alcohol, which crea.es
rew physiological want, a systemat
ldemand, which becomes peremptoi
and irresistible, overbearlng the pc
sons will and judgment until 3
ID ends up a typical inebriate.
nj The dangers and evils from ale
:, hol can be taught successfully
common schools, il only such lac
" are presented as are fpractical va
ne. and, secondly, if these facts a
presented in natural and logic
'sIorder. No important scientific ia
relating TO the abuse OF alcoh
must be omitted. Don't tell chll
rem that to drink is wicked. u
nd will never stem the tide OF inter
- perance in that way. Give the
facts. scientific facts and expe
ments performed before their ey'
Tell them that alcohol is pols
like chloral or prussic acid, aud
> Illustrate this fact by wetting ear
worms with alcohol, when they "
|. Idle, or put some flies into a bot
III with alcohol, when they will be x
NC ed by its vapor; or give a dog I
ar three ounces of alcohol, WI
the animal will give cry and !
llifeless. Can anyone suppose u
after seeing such experiments q
child will doubt that alcohol 1
poison, or that you can make tn
.lbelieve that alcohol has no dang
land evils? Put two plants in
= schoolroom where the children {
,,lsee them. Place the roots OF
and md in water, and it will remain III
1ahlifor some time; now add TO
water in which the roots of the OF
y. Iplant are placed even small gu
tity Of alcohol, and the plant
soon die, and the children will h
in received lesson about alcohol Il
at at will never forget, and they will
on on doubt when told of the dang
md and evils Of alcohol to man and
Ii. Offspring. Thus, and thus or
"a, al can we successfully teach the d
gers and evils Of alcohol in CONN
- chools.-Edwarl G. Mann, M.
&c. F. s. s., in Journal Of lnebriety
der :,
- r. :. ast;r,afad that in Enpl