The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-04-06
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANcE.
Treating Is a Baneful Custom-Nothtns
Else has Wrought Such Widespread
Harm, to Mankind-Is 1t Mark OF
ri; apd abiD IN INF Mani

Else Has wrought Such "loosPronu
Harm, to Mankind-Is 1t Mark OF
Friendship to Ruin Manf
There is no custom of society that has
wrought such widespread harm to man
kind as the custom of treating, as ct Il
called
1t has made more unhappy homes, de-
stroyed more strong intellects, laid waste
and degraded more fair young lives, than
any other evil custom ever devised or par
ticipated in by man.
Our best mechanics. our most inventive
geniuses, most brilliant orators. gifted
poets, eminent scientists and professional
men, have by it been robbed of their
crowns of success; yet it is said and be-
lieved by many to be a mark Of friendship
to treat a man, and although the majority
of the men one meets can tell of men who
of their own knowledge have been ruined
by it, yet they consider it friendly thing
to do.
Many commercial men seek to excuse
themselves for it by saying that they must
as they are travelling about the country all
the time, and are the recipients of many
favors from hotel men. Query: wonder
how many favors they would receive IL
they were not already literally paid for?)
A man from some other part comes into
the city on business and visits the whole
sale house from which he is in the habit of
buying, or, it may be some other, to look
over samples, OF seeking new goods, or
novelties with which to attract customers.
An obliging salesman is sent to wait upon
him, who, having satisfied himself that "it
is worth while" generally succeeds in
the customer is invited to lunch, and, OF
course, that means to drink a bottle Of
wine, perhaps, or a few glasses of some de-
licious but potent compound of whisky or
some other liquor, and spices and other in
gradients that enter into those mixtures,
and all the time he is being entertained by
the engaging salesman, who, after his Gus
toner has been we'll primed, proceeds to
business, and often succeeds in getting rid
of "job lot" of old goods at fancy prices,
or in securing much larger order than is
prudent for the merchant to buy. But this
is by no means the most harmful phase OF
the treating custom.
Some schemer is anxious to secure
franchise from a municipality for street
railway, or electric lighting, or something
comes known what his business is he may
be seen assiduously cultivating the individ-
ual acquaintance of the Councilmen, invit-
ing them to lunchI to dinner, ETC., and
quietly taking their measure so that he
may discover the best means to influence
them in his favor. And at last they often
find that the wine has been TOO powerful
for them, and that under its influence they
have bartered their self-respect for few
treats, and have consented to rob the mu-
nicipality they were elected TO serve, with
the result that, having once robbed 1t for
others they sometimes begin to rob it for
themselves, and many men, honest under
other circumstances, have thus become
scoundrels through the treating habit. Yet
this is not the worst.
A number Of men are working in shop.
PAY day comes and several of them are on
their way home after receiving their pay.
As they reach the tavern door (for they
can hardly reach home without passing at
least one) one of the party says, Come IN,
boys; let's have glass of beer, They go
in, and there are perhaps half dozen
more of their mates already in there. Step
ping up to the bar their leader says,
"What'll you have, boys?" and the various
drinks are called for. When drank an
other one says, "Now you must have one
on me-" and when the glasses are agar!
emptied another says, Fill 'em up again.
And so it goes on till all have treated, tor
of course it would be held mean to drink
at another's expense and not treat IN re-
turn, and each one finds himself minus
dollar or two of his earnings which ne can
i'll spare, or which in many cases is needed
to procure necessaries for his family. But
what's the odds? Fathers drunk, the bay
keeper has the money, and wife and chll-
dren can whistle for the shoes or other
clothing, or perhaps for bread itself. -!
An unknown man is sick unto death
with an internal tumor. A council OF ply
sicans is called, and it is decided that the
tumor must be cut away in order to save
the mans life. The operation is an exceed
| ingly difficult one, requiring very skiltul,
steady hand, as the tumor Is situated 80
near the heart that the least bit too deep
an incision will be fatal The surgeon Is
young but has already won eminence IN
his profession, bHt even he grows pallid as
he realizes the difficulty of the operation,
and physician hands him small glass OF
brandy to tone up his nervous system;
| The operation is begun, and all goes we'll
| till just at the most critical point the SUI.
geon feels an Involuntary contraction OF
| the muscles of his arm. kissing, gurglIng
sound Is heard, the bright red blood gushes
! forth-another human life has fallen VIC
tim to alcohol. and the usefulness OF an
other life ia destroyed. Died under the
operation" Is given out to the bereaved
, relatives and friends as the cause OF death:
! Was it that. or was it due to that glass OF
brandy? That surgeon knows the true
cause, and never again will he have the
nerve to undertake very dlt1lculr case,
because the remembrance OF tins one Will
utterly unfit him for the work.. L.
Richardson, in the Royal Templar.