The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-16

! The. Mission OF Whisky, Tobacco and
Coffee.
The Creator made all things, we be-
lieve.
If so, He must have made these.
We know what He made food and
water for, and air and sunshine, but
why Whisky, Tobacco and Coffee?
They are here sure enough and each
performing its work.
There must be some great plan be-
hind it all; the thoughtful mai seeks
to understand something Of that plan
and thereby to judge these articles for
their true worth.
Let us not say "bad" or good" with
| out taking testimony.
There are times and conditions when
It certainly seems to the casual obserT-
er that these stimulant narcotics are
real blessings.
Right there is the ambush that con
ceals a "kilIinG" enemy.
One can slip into the habit of either
whisky, tobacco or coffee easy enough,
but to "untangle" is often a fearful
struggle.
1t seems plain that there are circum.
| stances when the narcotic effect OF
these poisons Is for the moment bene'
fetal, but the fearful argument against
| them is that seldom ever does n find
a steady user Of either whisky, cot
fee or tobacco free from disease OF
some kind.
Certainly powerful elements in their
effect on the human race.
1t is a matter Of daily history testi'
fed to by literally millions Of people,
that Whisky, Tobacco and Coffee are
smiling, promising, beguiling friends
on the start, but always false - bel
itself in the end. Once they get iirm
hold enough to show their strength,
they insist upon governing and drive
the victim steadily towards i'll health
in some form; if permitted to continue
to rule, they will not let up until ply
steal and mental ruin sets in.
A man under that spell (and under
the spell" is correct), Of any n oil
these drugs, frequently assures him
self and his friends, why, I can leave
or any time I want to. I did quit TO:
a week just to show I could" 1t Is O
sure mark: Of the slave when one gets
to that stage. BE wiggled through 8
week fighting every day to break the
spell, was finally whipped, and began
his slavery all oVer again.
The slave Coffee slave as well as
Tobacco and Whisky daily reviews his
condition, sees perfectly plain the
steady entertainments Of disease, how
the nerves get weaker day by day ant
demand the drug that seems to smile
and offer relief for a few minutes and
then leave the diseased condition
palmer to view than ever and grow
ing worse. Many times the Coffee
slave realizes that he is between two
fires. He feels bad if he leaves off
and q little worse if he drinks and al
lows the effect to wear off.
So it goes on from day to day. Every
night: the struggling victim promises
himself that he will break the habit
and next day when he feels a little
bad las he is quite sure toy, breaks,
not the habit, but his own resolution
It is nearly always a tough fight, with
disaster ahead sure If the habit wins.
There have been hundreds Of thou
sands of people driven to their graves
through disease brought on by coffee
drinking alone, and it is quite certain
that more human misery is caused by
coffee and tobacco than by whisky, for
the two first are more widely used,
and more hidden and insidious i'll the
effect on nerves, heart and other vital
organs, and are thus unsupported IN
til much Of the dangerous work is
done. 80.
Now, Reader, what Is your opinion
as to the real use the Creator has for
these things? Take a look at the ques-
ton from this point Of view.
There is a law Of Nature and OF Ma
lures God that things slowly evolve
from lower planes to higher, a sturdy,
steady and digni6ed advance toward
more perfect things in both the Ply
steal and Spiritual world. The pom
derous tread Of evolutionary develop
ment is fixed by the Infinite and will
not be quickened out Of natural law
by any Of mans methods.
Therefore we see many Illustrations
showing how nature checks too rapid
advance. Illinois raises phenomenal
crops of corn for two or three years.
If she continued to do so every year
her farmers would advance in wealth
far beyond those Of other sections or
oorntr;oc So Neturn intprDOseS q bar