The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-21
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LESSON.


Proverbs XXX i; KILL 20, Il, x0-So-
The Curse of Strong Drink.
Israers poet-king and prodigy of wisdom sets
himself to the task OF painting the drunkard's
portrait 1t is faithful likeness. and horrii
because faithful. The royal artist persists In
his undertaking. though his canvas grows lurid
and frightful under each successive strnke Of
the pencil His picture has proved veritable
danger signal. flashing its warning color upon
successive generations for three thousand years
It's red light has proved a powerful deterrent to
mutitudes. Nowhere in literature Is the VICE.
the folly and the fate Of the drunxard so pow
erfully depicted.
That such picture could have been painted
thirty centuries ago sufficiently proves the an
tiquity Of the vice. Drunkenness is modern
sin or mere accident Of our present civilization
1t is old Noah. and older. intoxicating
liquors undoubtedly infamed the race before
the flood. and led on to that name s deprayity
which had to be drowned out in that awful
judgment. And each succeeding generation has
suffered the crushing weight OF this dreadful
woe; each has been burned, bitten and poisoned
by this vice; from each has burst the sorrowful
and despairing intersections. "Or "AlasP,
Old it is. Soomons picture is the very
similitude of the drunkard Of to-day Three
thousand years have not sufficed to change the
causes or effects Of intemperance Study the
successive strokes Of this masterful delineation.
Those who tarry at wine by the increase of
the subtle and powerful appetite are compelled
to seek stronger potations (mixed wine) The
graduation from light wine to red wine and the
highly alcoholized wine, with its eyes or beads
is inevitable. Then follow the facial signs of
inebriety (redness of eyes,; next quarrelsome-
ness. causeless wounds. and the infiaming Of
sexual passion. Finally incipient dementia
which makes the drunkard oblivious to personal
danger and to indignities visited upon him by
hooting mob or officer OF lava dementia in
which. however. the appetite persstently as
serts ITSELF the worm dieth not the fire is not
quenched. All is forgotten, all is lost but
among the debris OF mind heart and manhood
the conqueror stalks. 'And careth naught for
the awful ruin he hath wrought"
This is no pleasing fancy sketch of genius,
nor happy aesthetical study: but IT deserves the
close. respectful attention OF every one who
loves himself and his neighbor No Christian
push this picture nonchalantIy aside unless
his Bible permits him to say. 'I am not my
brothers keeper" No truly philanthropic spirit
Christian or not. can turn with Indifferent cool
from this inspired canvas II pictures the
all-embracing "woe." making its piteous ap-
peal to every one who processes to love his
species. And II neither Christianity nor phil
anthropy SUFFICIENT to bring this Nation to
the point OF dealing with this evil in some prac-
ticai manner. self-interest self-defense will
The trafnc in ardent spirits produces a deterior-
ated manhood. insanity. pauperism. crime and
death. A catalogue Of most undesirable prod
ucts.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
The wisdom of Solomon inexhaustihle
fountain. 1t gushed out in many channels. 1t
is believed that Aristotle reproduced his phiIos-
ophy. Aesop his fables He wrote a thousand
and five songs; or, as some render IT, five thou
he named. classified. described the fora Of
Palestine. IL not Of a wider territory As a
zoolosist he did the same for the fauna.
But the inspired wisdom Of Solomon finds its
most admirable expression in the Book Of
Proverbs. Dean Stanley says IL is the "sancti-
fication OF common sense" and again II Is the
philosophy of practical life" Dr. Guthrie ac-
counts for the high character OF Scotchmen by
their early acquaintance with Proverbs. the
practical sagacity and wisdom OF Solomon.
There is also a spiritual well as a utiii-
tartan side to this book OF kingly authorship
Wordsworth excIaims: THE Proverbs OF Solo
mon come from above; they also look upwardr'
Another we'll says: while other parts o. Scrip
ture show US the glory OF high calling. this
may instruct in all minuteness OF detail how to
walk worthy OF it,"
A nickel copy OF the Book OF Proverbs ought
to go into the pocket OF every boy and young
man in Christendom. These aphorisms are
flashlights. They show the wisdom Of goodness