The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-20

1FTRODUCT1GN.-Th remarkable fnot
about this. passage is thattit was written
three thousand years ago by a noted king
OF Israel There Is change In all things
human. In laws. Institutions. speech. GUS
toms ana manners, but tho Vices and
sins OF mon are ever the same. II We
could return to Palestine int days Of
Solomon. we should be greatly Astonished.
and, perhaps amused. at things found
there, and yet. on closer examination We
should fl,id that mon became: ntoxtca ted
then. az now, and their behavior when
under. the Influence OF strong drink was
substantially the same. Hence this WiseSt
Ut men represents the curse OF the drink
habit as It was known to him, and his
words are as we'll understood BY US as BY
his contemporaries Here Is a q ssertn-
ton thirty centuries old, accented ny
all the experiences Of the intervening
time. heard and unheedod BY thousands.
worthy to be treasured ln'the heart OF the
thoughtful. Who will not to-day open
his mind to the truths here uttered. alu
make them potential In his life? .
5t D&TEEPTION.-The Lesson Committee
has assigned one verse. (ch. xx:D detached
from all the others, as q kind OF text Tor
what follows. The drinker OF alcohoilc
beverages invariably begins with the Idea
that there Is profit. either pleasure nr
strength to DO derived from his habit. For
some time. usually for years. he Is cont
trolcd by this thought, and his practice
grows upon him because OF temporary
feeling that seeing to confirm this opinion
This Is serious deception. as he d.s'
covers after. awhile to his great sorrow
and loss. And he finds when too late that
he has been led !nto the greatest folly.
II stvv,tv4 l. - boz
what II never gives, enjoyment health
and vigor. Like some flend It awakens
hopes destined to be disappointed, makes
promises never 10 be kept. inflames at
the outset the lima gina tion Of the deluded
one, and fills his mind with prospects
OF good that arc surely turned 10 evil.
Perhaps there Is nothing else In 500 al
life that leadss so many astray under de-
lusive and flattertnE offers for Their well
fare.
Y ASSOCIATES 2o) Now comes
piece Of advice that is wholesome and
timely. II one would avoid the deception
just mentioned he should shun the place
where its power may be most surely felt.
The company OF wine blbbers Is ext eed.ng-
ly dangerous They are m!rtful set free
from all anxiety and care. giving ex-
IRENE expression am ong themselves TO the
spirit OF pleasure that seems to reign IN
their hearts. Elsa. v:22.) They sing and
shout. and laugh, and to one who looks On
they seem to be incarnations Of happiness,
It la needless to say that there Is a temp
tation to some to Join In with the m for
the sake Of the enjoyment and because OF
the earnest solicitations which they mate.
It is a singular fact that they who arc
partially intoxicated seek to bring others
under the power OF drink. Hence, "be
not among them" says Solomon, keep
away from them. II you would ESCAPE
their Influence and be free from their
habits. This Is the first lesson to be learned
by the young man as he goes out into the
world. II no would be sober and true and
good.
POvERTY.-yerse 21.) Next we have a
fact to support the advice just gven The
scenes of revelry will not last forever,
Until late hour In the night. perhans
until the small hours OF the morning, one
may partake OF the Intoxicating d.aught.
His companions may cheer his heart. and
the time may pass all too quickly in ms
thought But the night will be gone, and
with It the money expended for drink.
Subsequent seasons OF dissipation Will
further reduce the treasures. 1t Is ah-
tonishing how rapidly fortune may be
expended. Accumulated with labor and
economy or handed down by q loving par
ent it goes as the dew disappears before
the morning sun. The time will come when
the drunkard shall come to poverty, when
he will be clothed In rags. II before hn
was sought by many and enlisted IN
festive occasions. no one wants him now,
Poverty and rags bring neglect, and he IN
solitude loses hope and self-respect, and
seeks yet another cup to drown his sor>
row and to revive his sinking he-rt. All,
how much better would 1t have been for
the man had be abandoned the associates
who first taught him the evil habit?
EVILS.-tverses 20 and ao) The drunk
ard S misfortunes are not all external, az
fecttng his possessions and apparel. It Is
possible for man to lose his belongings.
and yet be noble specimen Of man
So long as wei can keep an evil on the
outside, we need not be greatly troubled.
But the drink habit attacks the man him.
self and .nflicts the most serious injury.
within, compared with which all that ls
without hardly deserves to be mentioned.
That internal damage Is to the body. the
mind, the spirit, the entire man In all
parts OF his being, See the long list civ n
BY solon1on-"woe,' SORROW" conten.
TONS" "ba billing" wounds, "redness
OF eyes" All this may be reproduce \ in
every community III our ddy. we 'Heeu
only to go to police courts. to pris n
cells!~ to almshouses, to desolate homes,
to street brawls. to find It all And whe Il
do these things come from? So might q ny
one ask, as, he looks on the terrible pil-
lures OF suffering spread SO constantly be-
fore the eyes. The answer is easy. II Is
upon the lip OF the little child, "Thts IL
the outcome OF the drink habit" AZ
WARNINGS 81 and s2)-iAll
drunkenness does not proceed from assoc
citation with iwine.bibbers, It may ca'ne
through private use OF lntoxlcants by
those who indulge In a moderate way at
first, and who gradually Increase tho
amount until mastered BY It, Neither Is
It purely q Question OF quantity, The,
quality Of the beverage must be cons der
ed. Theirs are drinks which may be taken
with perfect safety, and others that are
certain to lead to serious results This
was particularly the case In Palestine. us
It is now In all countries where grapes
are grown, and where wine becomes this
common drink OF the people, There are
parts OF Europe and OF California where
the people drink wine as we DO water, So