The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-04-25
Shall the Future American Be q Sub
ject of Temperance or a Subject
of InebriatiOn.

ject of Temperance or a Subject
of Inebriat,On.
Communication
1t has been my sacred privilege and
pleasant duty to give serious and
thoughtful consideration to an i'm.
pending danger which, unless soon
remedied, may develop into a great
impeachment towards the rapid pro-
gress of the coming young generation
and result in an inevitable evil that
might seal the lives of the young
American in a rather ~deplOrable con-
ditiOn.
For sometime past, l have paid
close attention to the movement of
our country young men in an en-
deavOr to discover whether they are
cultivating a desire for alcoholic
drinks or are stunning the fate that
awaits those who are already innOcu-
lated with the vicious and poisonous
ingredients contained in the drinks
served at the barrOOm counter. l.,
necessarily, watched with earnestness
their associations, conduct and habits
in general. and have found that the
use of inloxicants is largely on the
increase. l have noticed men of
family filled to the brim with whiskey
returning home: youths drinking and
sporting in barrOOms-gOOd looking
lads who but for whiskey could be
made useful and worthy citizens.
In an attempt to shape a solution
to the question asked, let it first be
understood that | have freed myself
of an Unborn prejudice to which |
have been subjected previous to my
entering this investigation.
We shall now consider effectiveness
of whiskey and the like in rendering
homes unhappy, causing lads to drift
into the gloomy paths of destruction
and women to fall by the way-side
unloved and unprotected. Boys can
be seer at any hour of the day or
night in barrooms squandering their
time by guzzling beer, sucking cigar
cites and playing pool. Fathers, who
ought to be at home advising their
sons. teaching them the virtues of
morality, truth and temperance, are
found sitting around gambling tables,
deriving their homes of the neces-
sary comforts of life and setting an
example which their sons will surely
follow. 1t is sad. indeed, to witness
such scenes as often occur in the bar
rooms throughout the entire world.
1t would be practically vain to at
tempt to make an estimate of many
lives lost by persons while under the
influence of whiskey, etc. IT. would
be equally as impossible to form a
correct conception of the broken ties
in many homes, of blighted love and
ended harmony. 1t is a daily Oc-
curence to see boys yet in their teens,
sucking cigaretts at public places and
discourteOusly putting their smoke
in the faces Of young ladies. A man
has not got the privilege of smoking
in any other place but his private
room, if he is the true type of man
hood. What think you of such boys?
With all these daily presentations,
are we still going to maintain that
barrooms are necessary to the pro-
gress of our towns and to the devel-
Opment of the coming American?
It was not so in the Olden times
when whiskey was partly or CON-
pletely unknown. Our ancestors
were all happy and in prosperous
circumstances. Their returns home
from work we're always pleasant. The
wife would be patiently waiting for
her husband and would welcome his
return with smiles and kisses, know
ing that she was not slipping nicotine
or alcohol from her husbands lips.
Such were the conditions at the time,
but now they are all changed. Young
married folks are Indifferent to each
other, wives are no longer affection
ate and devoted, husbands are dis
courteous and ~unattentive. And
what are the results in most cases Z
The courts are filled wife divorce
suits.
Fathers and mothers, have you COD
sidered, have you realized the solemn
duty that rests on you? Do you some
times think that as you are SO will be
your sons and daughters? If you
wish your sons to develop into worthy
and useful citizens, if you wish,
your daughters to live as loving
beings, protected and hOnOred, then
educate them to all that appeals to
nobleness and purity, tell them OF the
virtues of modesty and truth. explain
to them that a good character is
founded upon conduct and firm deter
minatiOn.
''Tis education from the common
mind:
Just as the twig is bent, the trees
inclined"
LEIDLIE JOHANAN GUILBEAU.
e.