Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-03
SOME FINDINGS ON ALCOHOL.
conclusions Of Young Man Who
Was Asked to Manage a Large
Liquor Business.

Sir Benjamin w. Richardson. the en-
inent physician and surgeon, has left
this testimony on record. He says: II
am recording a matter of personal his
tory when L say that l, for one, had
once no thought of alcohol except as a
food. L thought il gave additional
strength. l thought it enabled us to
endure mental and bodily fatigue.
thought it cheered the heart. and lifted
up the mind into greater activity. I
learned, step by step. that the true &C
ton of alcohol is to create paralysis
of nervous power"
A young business man Of splendid ca
pacfties, whose views on the temperance
question were those generally held by
so-called moderate drinkers, when told
by his uncle. wine and spirit merchant.
that he had planned to retire from bust
ness, and desired to make arrangements
with this nephew that he might carry
on this well-payipg concern. decided be-
lore accepting the offer to examine some
temperance literature bearing upon the
alcoholic question given him by q
TREND. AT our request he tells what
he thought and what he learned con-
corning alcohol.
l thought (and thousands are under
the same impression today that alco-
hol gave energy and strength.
L have learned that the secrets of the
delusion is in its power to paralyze
People mistake dulled perceptions and
temporarily eased nerves for strength
Experience showed that athletes, ex-
plorers in cold regions or workers in
| the hot sun have proved the advantage
| of abstinence.
L thought every robust, healthy-look-
Ing moderate drinker was proof of the
strength giving properties of alcohol.
| L have learned that thanks to his
| constitution. he is healthy in spite OF,
| and not on account of the alcohol. and
| that insurance companies have proved
| abstainers' lives to be longer and health
Ter.
| 1 thought the Bible commanded the
use of alcohol when it said: For every
| creation of God is good"
/ have learned that our alcoholic
| drinks cannot be reckoned Gods good
| creatures. The grain grapes etc. are
| good. but the drinks are mans concoc-
| tions. and he does not hesitate to de-
stroy the nutriment in obtaining strong
| spirit
! I thought the Bible commanded the
use OF alcoholic drinks because IL spoke
Of wine cheering the heart of man.
l have learned that the wines OF
| Scripture times were very different to
the alcoholic liquors of to-day; distilla-
ton was unknown. and there was not
the craving for drink then. nor the ne
cessity for total abstinence.
| l thought il was not right to abstain
| from alcoholic liquors simply because
they were taken to excess by many per-
4 sons.
( have learred that II is only humane
4 that men should abstain for the sake of
their tempted brethren; for the sake or
/, trying to male this land-so blighted
/, by drink-a little brighter
I thought II was only the drunkard
who should become an abstainer. II he
could not drink moderately. and that he
was to be despised as most ignorant
and worthless creature.
| have learned that others should alb
stain that the drum ard might follow
their example have also learned that.
A III lucSe DAYS lueT' are men anG women
educated AS we'll as icnorant-with
| whom drunkenness Is a disease. in many
cases inherited. Thev cannot even sip
an intoxicant without placing them
selves in the most terrible peril. En-
tire abstinence is their Only safeguard.
! I thought the immense traffic In al
, coholic liquors must be beneficial to the
trade of the country.
I have learned that an incredibly
small number Of hands is required for
: the manufacture and sale Of drink as
compared to that TO produce the same
amount or value ir other employ ments:
+, and, OF course. n much larger quantity
OF other manufactured goods would be
required ii IL were not for the very
large expenditure on alcohol
In face of these facts and as a result
Of my investigations could not accept
my uncle's offer
iGLEANINGS FOR THE REFoRMER