The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-13
Flashlights On The
| emperance Question
NO. 8.
A Glorious Sunrise.
w. NJ. Bickers.

w, NJ. Bickers.
He hailed from the land where tho nocki,p
pro carols his sweetest note and the gentle
Hephyrs ever and anon watt the fragrance of
the honeysuckle and magnolia-eyen from IN
heart of the Sunny South. The writsr hacan me
associated with him in a business enterprise
ana was much impressed with his simple piety
ana loyalty to high ideals He was a proht-
bitionist, and voted as he prayed We wara
walking together along the street one day when
drinking man emerged from one of those
hu1sances known as bar-rooms and as he stagser-
ed past US my friend expressed both contamnt
ana pity at the sight. but added. Il only hope
10 the request for an explanation OF the sentt-
ment he told this story:
was one OF those strong men whose boast
IS that they know how to use LIQUOR pronerIv
ana VINO nave no fear of being mastered h,
appetite thought 1t the height OF absurditv 10
, ae some people seriously advocating total alb
suhenceT What Was Christmas without the egg
nog and punch bowls! The idea of a dry ban
quet! And OF course the rendezvous at the ga
loon was quite the proper and polite thing for
gentlemen! But the strong man gradually and al
most 1lnperceptibly lost his strength until
pecahe drunkard! l will not here recite the
haf ROWING experiences common TO men master
ed by the habit. but one summer morn
ing l found myself huddled upon bench in a
sequestered corner Of park in Washington
had been on protracted spree and having M
money left to pay for lodging had instinctively
sought TINS spot for rest and sleep When j
aWoke the king OF day was sending out his rad d.
anu advance couriers from behind the eastern
horlzln. soioaauized that / was far from
home. my family not knowing where I was ar
If alive or ded. did I know of their cona,
ton. knew l was a coward. vagabond and
1901, and had been unable to face ahout
right. was chilly, thirsty, nerve raoked hun
cry. heart sick, penniless, friendless discour-
aged! The wings of the morning were now
spread athWart the empyrean ana the Goddess
or Liberty on the Capitol building glistened in
mellow splendor. 1 dropped on my knees laid
my head on the bench and prayed earnestly
agonfzingly pleadingly to nature and human
ttys. God for deliverance from the body of that
DEATH Well, sir. If poor miserable man
ever did pour out his soul in prayer. I did
that morning. AT that improvised altar con-
secrated my will. and flung myself into the Ever
lasting Arms! And l from my knees n
new man! The rising never so beaut,-
ful, the birds never sang sweetlyi NV soul
had seen the sunrise, had felt the healing
beams OF the Son of Righteousness. From that
moment to this l have never had tho least
desire for drink OF liquor Ali there is
power which will save and keep mani"
What pity 1t Is that that Goddess OF LIB
erty on tho National Capitol's dome does not
also symbolic the nations unwingness to
foster traffic that enslaves the minds bodies
and souls OF American citizens. This question
has been tempered and temporized with quite
long enough The stately steppings toward ma
tional prohibition are encouraging. But IN the
meantime there is no excuse for men taking
the awful risk OF being undone by indulging In
the social glass. Saloons furnish opportunity
and temptation. but tho saloons cannot force
men to drink. That Is a matter Of volition and
every man ia personally responsible FOR his
acts.
wine is mocker. strong drink is raging:
and whosoever Is deceived thereby is not wise