Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21
Marianne birmingham.

temperance teaching. Inc average
school life of the child in the public
schools is about four years of seven
months each. Not over 20 per cent of
the pupils in our cities finish the
eighth grade.
1t il wicked proposition that these
young people whose circumstances force
them to take up the battle for daily
bread at ages from 10 to ID years are to
be deprived of all knowledge of the
effects of alcoholic drink upon the
human system. Whatever you would
have appear in the life of the nation
must be instiled into the minds of the
children when at school,"
The primary grade is none too soon
to begin to instii the doctrine of
total abstinence into the minds of the
little children il we expect permanent
results. There is no more reason of
putting off true temperance instruction
until the child reaches the upper grades
than there is for putting off all moral
instruction. Hear the children.
We shall be what you will make us;
Make us wise and make us good;
Make us strong in time of trial
Teach us temperance. self-denial,
Patience. kindness, fortitude.
] have on my table enough evidence
gathered from t,s most eminent scien-
tific authorities to convince me that
the question is long ways from being
settled as far as the nature of alcohol
is concerned.
The designations of the next 10
years are Just as liable to show that 1t
is poison as that it is foud.
Dat phathar food ~ pnienn MN Gnpup
from experience that its nature is not
changed by the lapse of time, and that
its effects are the same as they were
generations ago. -.=.
The moral side Of temperance instruc-
tion SO grandly urged in certain quar-
tiers is all right, but how am to in
struct the child against any bad habit
whatever unless show him plainly the
evils which follow in the train of in
dulging that habit?
shall wait until he has become
moderate drinker, and then caution
him to exercise self-control and not
allow his appetite to get the mastery of
him? Children are governed by motives
as are persons of mature age.
Ii we expect the mau to exercise his
ill-power to resist temptation there
foundation, the earlier in childhood this
reason or motive is implanted the
broader and stronger is the foundation
which it derives its strength
In the same connection it may be
truthfully said that the argumentswhich
ing the effects Of alcohol may be used
nf xut tnh
touches the use of stimulants and mar
cotics.
The whole system of scientific tenn
perance instruction is SO fitly Joined
together that if 1t is faulty in one par
ticular il is faulty in all.
Men use tobacco and live to be so
years CID. Men and women me addicted
to the morphine habit and yet live for
years. Shall We tell the children that
the use of these drugs or poisons or
foods is injurious to one and not to
another? Shall we inculcate the ncticn
| that il used at all it must be with great
modei alton; that the appetite must be
subject always to the will? To break
away from the morphine habit is like
breaking away from the embrace OF
death. And yet the morphine habit is
no more lnsidIous in It's approaches, is
no more sure of its victim, enchanting
| the appetite, breaking down the will,
devastating the moral nature, than is
| the use of alcohol as beverage.
The friends of scientific instruction
have no reason to be disnnayed. There
| is no occasion for yielding an inch Of
| the ground already won. Teach the
| children the truth, but teach them the
| whole truth, not only as we learn it
from science, but as We learn it from
experience as we'll.
At this present juncture, when ouf
railroads, our great manufacturing
| interests, our business men are taking
| the ground that their most trusted
employees must in all cases be "total
abstainers, - it seems to be most I'M
| fortunate time for our schools to teach
that intoyicants can be used with safety
| if used moderately. Moderate drinking
| in itself may not be a crime, but to
teach the child that moderate drinking
may be indulged in with safety is q
crime against the American home,
against American interests aud against
| American manhood.
We are glad to give the following
| items of local work, and wish the
unions throughout the State would co
operate with us along the line of news
The Dover union sent So bouquets tt
the Wilmingtcp W. g. 4. U. for dis
| tribution to railroad employ es, OF
Memorial Day, and the members of th,
union are on the alert to detect the sale
of cigarettes to minors under II years
the age prohibited by the cigarette
law.
The Smyrna Band of Hope enter tain
ment held in the Opera House the even
ing of May 3lst, vas pleasing one ant
showed careful training of the children
ty the superintendent of tho band ant
others who kindly assisted them.
Saturday. June 9th, was Flower Mis-
sion Day and doubtless it was observed
in many localities as ii was in Smyrn,
by the distribution of bouquets ant
scripture cards to Shut Ins.
Ii is beautiful ministry and Away
brings lesson by it's association witt
Miss Jennie Cassidy, whose devote,
life to humanity taught the possibilit
of "doing good' under great limita
tions.
The United States delegates to tn
Worlds Biennial W. Q, T. U. Con
vention to be held in Edinburgh, Scot
land, June 22d-29th, sailed last week
Miss Reheccs A. Insley of the Indian
apolis News will report the conyentio
for The Union Signal.
Journalism.willa also be represented b
the national lress superintendent, Mrs
Minnie B. Horning of Chicago, VIII
took time to send the editor of thes
notes her good-by before starting.
Delaware Again Uonored.