THE VICE OF DRUNKENNESS.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 88, 7 April 1883, Page 3

THE VICE OF DRUNKENNESS.

[Communicated.] Much has been said and written on the sin of drunkenness, and many modes of remedy or prevention have been suggested mildly, or thrust violently, upon all sorts and conditions of persons who were afflicted with this unhappy propensity. Yet the true remedy does not appear to have been found, or if found, it is not in .jtery. general use, for the crime or sin is just as rampant as ever, and is always especially noticeable on or immediately after, periods of commercial prosperity, and so by a good many unreflecting individuals is looked upon *.s a good healthy sign in a village or town where inany of tbe laboring classes are employed. We venture to differ with these mistaken individuals. Much drunken- . ,ness means much real distress, and if not this, it means alot of small debts unpaid. The butcher ani the baker have to go short of money in order that the beerdrinker may have a few hours of brutal enjoyment at their expense. Now if the ordinary laboring man would have the sense to know that by saving a little in opening a post office savings bank account when times were good, he would not only ' be able to have beer more regularly, but • especially when he thinks he most wants . it— that is, when he is not in full work. . Another thing to be considered is that •the habit of saving would probably grow ■jupon.him, and after a few years' of selfdenial his monetary position would be so improved that he would have too much self-respect, and would scorn to thinkas he too often does- that a good spree la the highest pleasure obtainable in this sublunary sphere. He will know then of other and higher pleasures. VVe think that, admitting" the partial failure of all other schemes for promoting sobriety, if the fair sex were to take the matter up in a sensible manner and attempted to show men the evil of drink, not by appealing to their moral feelings, that would Lave no effect, but by a direct attack on their selfishness, considerable good might be done. Let no woman allow a man to be in her presence while the effects of drink, however slight, are upon him, without ia some gentle way letting him know that his condition makes him offensive. Women all know how to make a' man conscious of his sins against good taste in a way peculiar to themselves, and of piercing the thickest of skins. The hardest part of this plan would be get the ladies' to act with unanimity, tn the kindness of their hearts (for which we are thankful) they ar^ too apt to overlook what in the present appears but a ■ lapse from the paths of rectitude, and forget that a man who only takes a little to-day, will, in the course of a few years, want ever so much more until he becomes a mere sot, unless he is fortunate in being stronger than too many poor fellows. They must' stop the evil at once. There is only to-day to repent and amend. Tomorrow is a bad day to wait for. Very few are so low that they do not value the favor of the fair sex, and we do think for their own sakes they should use every honest effort to discourage drinking. They could make a happier world for themselves, . for after ally they are the 'principal sufferers from this miserable vice. : We do think; they can do an imL mense amount of good, not so much by encouraging yountfmen to join a temperance society "as by showing them how much real, happiness , and pleasure they can gain" by abstaining from intoxicating ,4#V __________________