Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-10-01
FLIES POINT A MORAL
a LESSON FOR ALL WHO DAILY
WITH DRINK.
The Treacherous Fly Paper and the
Treacherous whisky Habit Have
similar Results-An Analogy Also
between the Victims OF Each.

| This is n true story-not an accumu-
lation OF pseudo facts. says a writer in
the New York Journal
\ man has spread out sheet OF lily
paper. He noticed that from day TO
day the number of small black specks
increased. each speck telling the story
of the fiy's tragic end. One day. out
of idle curiosity. he fell 10 studying the
flies as their doom overlook them.
One fiy came to the edge Of the pa-
per, tasted the treacherous, sticky prep
aratiou, then went away for the time
being. Another fly did the same. but
waded boldly i'm and was soon caught
fast Another fly. flying down straight
from above. landed i'm the middle OF
the fly paper. His pleasant buzz OF
anticipation soon changed to a loud
singing noise that told OF helpless rage
and fear.
AS the flies landed on the paper each
acted IN a different way. Some beat
their wings frantically for a second OF
two. only To fall over on their sides
very soon and succumb TO the sticky
poison. Others showed more intclli.
gencc and when they realized the dan
ger stood on the tips of their tiny legs,
cndeaVoring TO draw themselves up
and fly away.
Now and then some fly, with viO-
lent effort of his muscles and of his
will. would actually tear himself from
the fly paper ami escape. Others could
not get away. hut made heroic Strug-
Elc. They walked across the paper.
dragging their heavy legs and sticky
wings. climbing up on the bodies of the
other flies I'm search of some means OF
escape.
The man watched the flies. their diff
ferent kinds OF efforts. their different
ways of dying the long struggles OF
some. the quick submission of others
Ii was Il growsome hut Interesting
spectacle. What interested him most
was the stupidity of the flies and the
fact that not one Of them seemed 10
learn anything from the fate OF the
scores of others stretched dead ON the
sticky surface.
1t is evident" said the man. that
these Gic> have absolutely no capacity
for thinking or for estimating cOnse-
qucnces. Zach NY as he approaches the
paper must soc that there are scores OF
flies lying dead on it. Each OF these
flies. as he goes back and forth near
this death trap aust see the other flies
struggling. see their useless efforts.
hcar their terrified buzzing-yet each
fly in his turn ruins the risk and tempt
Cd hy the sweet sticky substance. goes
20 death In his turn.
Il suppose that each foolish fly thinks
that he will escape the fate OF the 9th
CrS. Each one imagines that he can
light on the paper and get OF again.
Perhaps each has noticed the Occa-
sional fly that Sets on the lily paper
and does escape safely. What fools
these flies are, What fool each one
OF them is not To say 10 himself that
what has ruined 50 many other dies
will surely ruin him. Why do they not
get out of this room, if they can. or ut
least keep as far away from the hy
paper aS poSslhleE'
Having thus unused philOsophically.
the mani put on his hat and went out,
leaving the flies and their foolishness
10 take care Of themselves.
The man turned TO the right. then
turned 10 the left. then went through
4 doorway. and then he was on the
ay paper that catches human beings.
He was in drinking saloon. and he
had glass OF whisky in front OF him.
At this point we may study this man
In the saloon as he studied the flies on
the paper in his bedroom. What hap
pens tO the man in n saloOnl
Exactly that which happens TO dies
on the fly paper. One man goes near
the edge of the whisky habit. takes a
little and goes away, like the fly first
mentioned who approached the edge
of the fly paper. This human fly who
takes little and goes away is almost
sure TO come back again in time. 9th
or men who approach the whisky fly
paper take a little and promptly wade
/ right in TO their doom.
The human victims that light on the
/ whisky lily paper have as many ways
OF struggling. as many ways OF dying,
/ as many ways of suffering and as few
| chances Of escaping as the ignorant
/ fly that lights on the sticky fly paper
/ in the hot kitchen.
or human flies on the whisky fly pa
per some struggle feebly for awhile
SSeAAliSA tAiN ti'AbAA NhsiN llsAS bAiCAA
and soon succumb. Others last for 8
long while. Only the ends of their fee'
touch the fly paper. They keep theil
bodies erect and for the time beinf
feel quite proud of themselves and cal
themselves moderate drinkers" Blu
their feet are on the fly paper. and will
nine out of ten of them 1t is only ,
question or time when the body anC
mind will sink TO the level of the feet
and that will be the end of the strug
gle.
An occasional human being escape
from lie whisky fly paper and goe
away ell others that whisky neve
hurt him" This human fly does tn
most harm. He sends others TO whiS
ky, and sooner or later he is prett
sure to go back there himself.
Remember that what has ruined OIL
ers may ruin you. Keep away froI
the saloon and from the whisky bottl,
Take walk through the potter's fiel
some day-any man at the morgue ca
tell you how to get there-and you wi
find the fruits OF the whisky bottl
quiet and peaceful at last in their fini
rest on the surface OF the fly papt
that caught them.
Crusade In BnrOtseIand.