Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-16
BY JUNE SHUT.
'SThe Value of Total Abstinence to n
Life.O

stinence from alcoholic beverages and
narcotics is essential to the greatest
! possibility in life.
Notwithstanding the fierce contests
of the past, total abstinence has
| strengthened its hold upon the mind
and conscience of all thinking people.
| The medical world, the business world,
/ the labor world, the religious world,
the courts, and the people are all rap
/ idly coming to the opinion that total
abstinence is the best in every partic-
ular.
The appetite for strong drink in
creases with its use. This appetite has
no power of self-restriction. 1t grows
by what it feeds upon. The power of
habit is practically supreme in the life
of the drinking man.
Follow Demand.
The power of will to cope with It
having been destroyed, what is to be
done but follow its demand? If per-
son once becomes possessed with this
appetite, there is nothing that he will
not do to crafty it. He will lie or
steal, or see friends and loved ones go
to ruin. provided only that be can sat
isfy this horrible craving for drink.
The life Of a drinking man is divid-
ed into two parts. In the first he could
have left 1t off if he would. In the SEQ
ond he would leave 1t off if he could.
Stronk drink wrecks health. 1t af-
fects the whole body-stomach, liver,
heart, arteries, kidneys, lungs and
brain. 1t Injuries every vital organ in
the human system. Medical statistics
tell us that between the ages of 20
and so, when 10 total abstainers die
81 moderate drinkers die. Between the
ages OF so and 40, when 10 total alb
stainers die 40 moderate drinkers die
This shows the tendency Of strong
drink, its danger to life and health, and
argues strongly for the more reason
able life of total abstinence. We are
told that Total abstinence from intox-
icating liquors, whether fermented or
distilled. is consistent with and con-
ducive to the highest degree of physi-
cal and mental health and vigor."
Affects Mental Power.
Strong drink affects the mental pow
ers. 1t stupef1es the brain. creates in
sanity and mental inactivity. The eff
feet on moral life is terrible. God
says, NO drunkard shall enter the
kingdom Of God" II causes a DISPOSE
ton to desecrate holy things. He who
was prompt in doing his duty begins
to shrink from that which is irksome.
Energy gives way to indifference. hon
esty TO dishonesty. and truthfulness
to lying In FORGETTING the respect for
others, the respect for self is lost and
character is overthrow.
When passion has place. swifter and
swifter is the downward pace till, an
outcast TO God and man. he is lost to
all that is good and to all hope for
future happiness. A large portion of
human misery, poverty, disease and
crime is produced by the use Of alco-
holic beverages. The use of drinks
that contain alcohol is the worst kind
of intemperance. This form is a ter
rible curse to America. II tends to
destroy the work that the schools
strive to build up. The American
schools have for their object such edu.
cation of children as will lead them
to become good citizens. Alcoholic
drinks over-stimulate. and over
reaction leaves the body weaker than
before. and It destroys vitality and
will power.
Makes Him Look Foolish.
That wine maketh glad the heart Of
man is true; but little too much wine
makes a man look very foolish, and a
great deal too much makes him look
worse than a beast. Happy are those
in whose families for many generations
there has been no habit Of excessive
drinking and in whom therefore there
is none. The greater part Of all men.
tally diseased. idiots and cripples have
to thank the alcoholism Of their par
ents and grandparents for their pitia-
BILE condition. One Of the first effects
of alcohol is to paralyze the nerves.
thus causing the corpuscles to lose
their brilliant red color. Nearly half
the accidents that occur IN working
hours are caused by the use of alcohol.
Habitual use Of alcohol. instead of
quenching the thirst, Increases the de-
sire for more.
Scientific Temperance.
H. B. Hayden, superintendent OF
schools, made few remarks on scien-
tific temperance instruction in the
school. He said that great good had
been accomplished by the efficient
working of the state law requiring
such instruction. An impression had
prevailed that schools are pulling away
from the work, but he thought there
was no general dissatisfaction. There
is. however, well-def1ned opinion that
the working out Of the law has not
been wisely planned. II was thought
that a committee of teachers could do
better. To that end committee of
teachers was appointed by state con-
vention two years ago to consider the
matter with a committee from the w
c. T. u. No change was agreed upon,