Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-03-10
A Mixed Question.

Without intending to be captlous,
or even controversial, the Journal
calls attention to differences between
professionals oftentimes merely to
show the mutually destructive charac-
tero expert testimony, especially of ex-
pert opinion, not to say expert tultlon.
All know that there is hardly a pro
fessor of any degree in the depart
ments of Frostburg learning who does
not believe. hold and teach the thesis
that alcohol is physiological IA poison.
AS intimated, the JOURNAL is not
prepared, nor is it inclined to dispute
this wellknown contention. 1t has not
forgotten that temperance lecturer
came here several years ago who, in
pleading against the use of alcohol
either as beverage or medicine, eX-
posed the fact that it is product of
the rankest decay. He said the grain
had to be reduced to pulp, then de-
composed into rottenness before alco-
hol could be extracted. Hence, he
contended that alcohol, being the
logical, immediate product of death
was the deadiest of all polutions.
If the JOURNAL were allowed to di-
grees here it would inquire what
would be the bentficent extent of a
crusade in Cumberland against al
cholic pollution as vigorous and in
tolerant as that which has been aud is
waged against river polsOns
But as Il diversion of that character
is not at all permissible, we are oblig-
ed to return to the exposition of a
difference between Frostburg pioneers
OF thought and Prof. w. o. Atwater,
of the Chicago Wesleyan University.
in speech Wednesday of last week
before the National Educational
Society, who, among other remarks,
made these:
Experiments show that alcohol is oxydized
with the body and so supplies energy like
common articles of food.
That would have been Il sumner
against the radical temperance plea,
but the JOURNAL gladly notes this
qualification
1t is a food in the sense that it can yield
energy to the body, but not III the sense that
it can build tissue. In yielding energy it re-
sembleS sugar, starch and fat.
This is unquestionably as new to
FrOstburg scholars in general as it Is
to the unlearned JOURNAL.
But it is possibly, probably. plausl-
bly, true. The Incorporate use of
sugar, starch and fat is, therefore,
in some degree culpable, notwlth-
standing Henry Ward Beecher'S in
junction to parents years ago
Do not for hygienic reasons deny candy to
your children. Be sure as you can that it
is pure, for pure candy is prize fattener.
Returning to Prof Atwater, who
seems to belong to the class of intel
lectual and moral rarities known as
1""cttcaI teachers, it is pleasing to OBJ
serve that he concludes with an ap
peal for the exercise of good sense
ask that the teachings of science in our
schools shall keep pace with the progress of
research:
Which means, Of course, that teach
ers teaching temperance should insist
that it is the abuse-not the use of in
toXlcantS which wrecks and kills ::
that so far as can be seen the gener-
alton and development of alcohol are
processes which may be restrained
but not prohibited by human law, and
that. after all. each pupil must at last
be his own leader out of and away from
temptations.
1t comes to pass, therefore, that the
teacher who employs all his opportu-
mites TO impress upon each pupil that
total abstinence is duty he owes to
himself, his friends, his country and his
God. Is far more effective mission
AIRY OF temperance than he who, at
tempting to abolish alcohol, would al
so destroy the base of bread.