The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-01-03
Warning From the Rock Pile.
(Riohmond News. J

(Richmond News.
An unfortunate victim Of the drink
habit went on the rock pile this morn
ing because he hoped that thirty days
of enforced sobriety would enable him
to regain control Of himself Some
casual readers will laugh at this and
others will feel momentsfy emotion
Of pity and then 60 on to think OF
something else. But mans penitence
must be sincere and his purpose to re-
form desperately earnest when he asks
for thirty days at hard labor TO help
him.
We are not preaching prohibition
Many other habits take hold Of men
and women as cruelty as liquor drink
ing. II we are going TO try TO prevent
people from hurting themselves by
making it impossible that they should
hurt themselves there is no telling
where we will stop. This is a good
time Of the year, however, for people
themselves TO be honest and square
with each other and TO determine
whether or not they are fooling them.
selves. Most Of as do. This man on
the rock pile did, no doubt. The lying
we do to ourselves Is the easiest Of all
lying, easy as any of it is. II is dol
lars to cents that the rock pile man
told himself he could stop drinking and
let liquor alone whenever he chose
Now he finds he must get Justice
Orutchfield TO help him hold himself.
We have little faith in New Year res
olutions, although they do sometimes
hold and some free and happy men and
woman look back TO frsts Of Januaries
as the dates If the beginning Of their
freedom and happiness. The first Of
January is, however, q good day for
people to take an hour or two to be
absolutely honest with their own hearts
and to look at themselves squarely and
fairly with the full light Of truth
turned on so that all the wrinkles and
blemisbes will be plainly visible.
Are you worse of or better of now
than this time last year, and If so,
why? OF course II worse off, your i'm.
pulse is to blame somebody else or CIR
cumstanoes and you have probably been
doing it and have made your wife or
close friends thinks as you do. But are
you not at faultG Have you really and
honestly done your very best5 A little
extravaganza at times? A little neglect
ful or careless? Rather too much tied
up with some fadf Drinking or smok'
ing q little too much or paying too
much attention to poker or even such
usually innocent things as whist or
lawn tennis or wheeling?
And if things are not going just
right at home, how about your part Of
1t? Are you closer to or further apart
from the people you ought to love and
grow closer TO every year? Have you
done your part? OF course the faults
Of the other party are obvious, but have
you been tolerant, thoughtful, patient.
generous, kindly? Have you actually
done your bestl
Not one in q thousand Of you, and II
you will study the case honestly you
know Ii.
Do not fool yourselves. Look at the
man on the rock pile. Liquor is nos
the only vice or evil in the world and
does not cause all the unhappiness there
is. Take your bearings. Study your
self as you are, and II you believe in
religion-as we trust you do-oall for
the help of the Almighty. The New
Year resolution Is not likely to amount
to much but the New Year examina-
tion and determination will tell.