The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-02
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANcE.

Strong Drink tho Curse OF MNltons N
Our Modern Civilization-LyinE. Pro-
crastination and sslf.Deiusion Are
In Every Glass OF Sph its.
There is a way that seemeth right unto
a man, but the ends thereof are the ways
OF death. ."-Proverbs, XIV, l2.
This is to be no sermon on tectolaism.
The desire is TO discuss with young men
and others, not a sentimental principle,
but the interest OF each individual.
Strong drink is the cur3e OF millions in
our modern civilization.
There is throughout society what may be
called whisky level" This level exists
in every great city and in every small vii.
lage. There are men classed as whisky
drinkers, hard drinkers, and, whatever
they may profess to believe, they are and
they know they ere the pariahs Of the
community.
Whisky has many apoloyists; there are
many arguments offered in 1t; favor; But
] these arguments are feeble compared with
those that may be brought against it.
You are told truthfllly this:
The drinking nations OF the world are
the great and successful nations. A small
handful of drinking English can subdue
and control the temperate millions Of In
dia, Egypt, etc.
Perfectly true. The powerful races do
drink. But the powerful individuals do
not drink.
The conquering armies are armies OF
drinking men usually-but their leaders
are sober, temperate men. If you want
to be one of the ordinary crowd, no worse
and no better than others, drink spirits
moderately" as whsky's friends put It.
But remember that there is no such thing
as drinking whisky moderately
Immoderate drinking makes you a
brute: IL classes YOU among those in the
picture; so-called moderate whisky drink.
ing takes the edge of your ability. 1t dis
counts your mental activity. You can't
be one Of the really successful men il you
start out to be moderate drinker.
What does a young man lose by not
! drinking spirits? -.
In the first place it is necessary to cult
vate the taste in the beginning. Why cul'
tivate it at all?
In the second place, admitting all the
usual sophistry about moderate drinking.
whisky means the loss of time. loss OF
money, loss Of clear mental thought.
There is boastiag, lying, vaci!lation, pro-
erastination, seif.delusion in every glass
Of spirits.
How many millions of men-on their
diving bed - have wlsned IeT'ehtiy aHu
mournfully that they had never tasted
spirits!
Did any dying man ever regret temper
ate life?
England drinks more gin-perhaps--than,
! any other two nations. But the gin OF
England is drunk by England's. failures.
The successful OF England don't know the
taste of gin. The deeper. you 90 into
Whitechapel the greater the number oi
| gin bottles per capita.
Young men should know and daily. re-
member that whisky and all other spirits
| cheat their bodies and brains. :.
| Whisky does for the nerves what lash
/ does for a tired horse.
Your system needs rest. Your brain 10
compete with others ought to sleep and re-
cuperate. Whisky lies to you. 1t makes
you think that it can give the rest and the
renewed strength. 1t creates an appetite
| in the nerves, and when YOU satisfy that
appetite it makes you think you have
found renewed strength. whereas you have
only taken a new dose OF poison.
Your brain and heart are lashed by
whisky into temporary activity. And yon
wonder that You are passed in hfe's race
ty the man Of less ability. You need not
wonder. He has given his brain. body and
heart normal rest. while YOU have gwen
yours q beating.-New York Journal.