Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-09-21
AN ADDRESS.
(Contiuued from Fir., p.ee1

Continued from First Psge.)
church and could not separate my re-
igion from the whiskey element.
would consider myself very poor
sentinel 10 stand upon the walls of
ZION. l would make a betterstumb-
ing 1look to the rising generation.
know that | make enc mics by the
stand take, but what ought that to
Weigh IN balance against the pleas
iug reelection of duty performed.
Bear with me while | state few
eases here IN our own county. Near
lrNiugton there rs ii wOmau-it would
be hard to tiud a better oue-who has
hadtosubInit TO ali the indlgnIties aud
cruelties that could be heaped upon
her by IA drunken husband. until her
home bad become veritable tor
ment. After our local-option elec
uon, the supply of strong drink be-
10y cut off for awhile, her husband
became sober aud her home happy.
She said she could compare the
change to nothing short of going
from torment To Heaven. No doubt
she looked forward with bright an
tlcipations to.future happiness, but
alas. for human hopes; after a few
months | saw that man once and
again under the influence of strong
drink. Language would fail me
were | to try to describe to you what
must have been that poor woman's
feelings on seeing her husband again
returning home drunk. There was
the grave in which were buried all
her earthly hopes; in all probability
never TO be resurrected. Oh, have
these men wEo carry on this sneak
ing business 30 hearts to feel for poor
unfortunate women, no hearts to pity
helpless, innocent children? They
must know their unlawful business is
not only taking bread out of their
mouths but banishing all happiness
from their homes. And for what? a
little lll-gotten gain, that is all. Who
ever knew one to rise to any degree of
spiendor or whose soul was ever bur
dened with exalted manhood? On
the other hand how many have you
known to be cut off In the prime of
life and called to give an account to
their Maker. They should have re-
membered that vengeance is mine
saith the Lord"
| knew of family near Weems.
where the head of the family spent
all his earnings for drink, until it
was said but for "a few charitable
ladies' in the neighborhood his wife
and children would have starved
The mother, in her extreme need.
sold part of her scanty wardrobe
and with the money sent one of her
little girls to buy something to eat,
and on her return with a little BAG of
flour she met her father in the road
who told her they did not need that
at home. lie took it from her and
traded it for drink. Oh, ladies and
gentlemen, to think that in this en-
lightened age-in this, the end of the
nineteenth century of Christian civ
ilizatiou, that man, whom God made
In his OWE image, should sink so far
below the level of brute, is there
"a man or woman within this house
with heart SO small or soul so dead
that they wish to see such things
perpetrated in Christian land?
Now friends, by your Indulgence /
will talk little while more particu-
larly to the ladies present; and ladies.
while would not have YOU become
clamorous, public advocates, even of
temperance, yet | assure you, YOU
have Heaven-appointed field of &C.
ton. Home, sweet home, is your
sphere Of action, your pedestal of
beauty, your throne of power But
If seen abroad woman is always seen
to the best advantage when on err
rands of love, wearing her robes OF
mercy. 1t is the influence of your
declared appreciation, of your open.
willing, visible example, enforced by
that soft persuasive eloquence which
In some hallowed retirement or
chosen moment exerts such q
controlling influence over the hard.
cold hearts of men--especially a
husbands, a sons or brothers
heart. 1t is this influence which we
need, an influence chiefly known by
the gradual transformation of char
acter it produces and which in its be-
nign effects may be compared to the
noiseless, balmy influence of spring.
shedding as it silently advances, rem
ovation over every hill and dale, and
changing throughout the whole face
OF nature rugged aud unsightly
forms into forms Of vernal loneliness
and beauty. The look of tenderness.
the eye of compassion, the lip of en-
treaty are yours; and yours too are the
decisions of taste, the omnipotence of
fashion; you can Danish forever temp
tation from your drawing-rooms and
dining tables and every place that
pertains to your homes. Home is your
empire-the empire over which God
and the usages of mankind have
given You dominion. Here within its
limits, and without transgressing that
mOdesty which is Heavens own Gift
and woman's brightest ornament, you
may exert a kindly but mighty in
fluence, here You have but to speak
the word and one source of the moth
er's, wife's and widows sorrows
throughout the circle in which YOU
move, will be dried up forever.
Families around You will feel the
influence of your example descending
upon them in blessing, like the dews
of Heaven that descended upon the
mountains of Zion, and loathsome,
brutal drunkenness, driven by the
power of your decision from all re-
spectacle abodes of society, will be
compelled to exist, if at all, only