The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-26

Many men VINO saw this sign appear
ed to think it very funny indeed, and
the owner of the drinking place was
congratulated on his pretty wit.
But unfortunately in that sign there
is more of grim than Of gay humor.
The man who takes to whiskey soon
finds that it does interfere with his bus
mess, and he finds also that when he
lets whiskey interfere with his business
he might as well-Give up his busi-
ness" If he doesn't his business will
give him up.
Business and whiskey do not travel
fer together. The other day a young
man, apparently with fine business
prospects, was found dead. He had
committed suicide.
Various explanations were offered for
his despair and self-destruction. He
left letter in which he expressed self
approval and the belief that he had
been treated unfairly by the world.
But the real story was left behind
him, easy to read. Beside him there
was pint bottle partly filed with
whiskev, and there were other bottles
of the same kind in his room empty,
although he had the room but a short
time. These bottles told that whisliey
has interfered with his life. and, TAX
ing the advice of the barroom mirror,
he had given up his life.
Two days since an unfortunate woman
was found dead in her lonely cabin.
She had been kind to animals, to men
and women more unfortunate even than
herself. But her life was hideously
lonely and sad. She had had friends,
wealth and a good chance in life. Kind
neighbors explained matters when she
was found dead. They tried to explain
why ner friends never saw her. although
they sent her money. They tried to
explain the miserable, lonely ending,
telling stories of early romances, etc.
But the story was told more simply
than that. Under the dead body there
was found a whiskey bottle almost
empty. and this fact was made public
al the inquest. The unhappy woman
had lacked food, and the animals that
she sought to befriend were starving
with her But she had managed some
how to get that whiskey, of which she
LETT little only because she was too
weak to lift the flask to her lips.
She had sold her clothing to some
neighboring negroes to buy the whls-
KEY.
1t was the same story: whiskey had
interfered with her life and her friends,
and she had given up life and friends,
compelled to do SC by whiskey.
No names are printed here: no names
are needed. You read such pieces Of
news, quickly told N commonplace
language, every day. If you read at
tentively the grewsome tale Of life's
tragedies and failures, the suicides and
murders, you will usually find the part
" empty whiskey bottle sticking out
somewhere in the narrative. In almost
every case you find that the unfortunate
one has taken the witty saloon owners
advice. ''If Whiskey Interferes With
your Business-Give Up Your Busi-
ness"
We do not preach or moralize m
duly.
Men and women have drunk through
all ages. They drink less now than
ever, fortunately. Some OF them will
doubtless continue to drink, as long 2s
hard work, keen competition, unwise
living. disappointed hopes and constant
temptation to escape iife's realities
shall continue to make whisLey appar-
emily a friend.
The young man who killed himself
near the half-empty bottle, the sad,
abandoned woman who died of hunger
in her loneliness and with w!iiskey
near her, had probably strong excuses
for their weakness and failure.
But let their sad ending be rome the
less a lesson to you, young men.
Bear in mind that motto on the bar
room mirror, and say to yourself: I
shall have no whiskey jokes in my ca
reer. I'll give up whiskey, and never
give it chance to make me give up
my business.
Remember that safety, as well as
self-respect and the duty of setting a
good example, demands that you let the
stuff alone.
Make up your mind that if you fall
in your life'S work it will not be be-