TEMPERANCE COLUMN

Evening Star, Issue 21708, 1 May 1934, Page 6

TEMPERANCE COLUMN

(Published by arrangement with the United Temperance Reform Council.) DRINKING AND EXAMPLE. Not every drinker null surely come to drunkenness or alcoholism, but every drinker is setting an example and" helping maintain a custom that must necessarily bring others to woe, sorrow, ill-heajtb, and non-success in ■life. , REVENUE. I was ouco acquainted with a man who owned a farm which had come to his fathers at the revolution. He regarded himself as a patriot, and at times drank freely in commemoration of the glories of the past. 1 appealed to him to sign the pledge for the sake of his wife and children, whereupon he replied in a tone of injured innocence, and with a look of blank amazement: “ What would the poor Queen do without her revenue?” I do not know what appreciable effect his abstinence would have exercised upon the Queen’s health and wealth; but I do know that it would have kept his farm in the family name, it would have kept Ids wife from being utterly brokenhearted, it would have kept his sons out of the prison and the poorhouse, and it would have kept himself from a tragic end—all of which involved the State in considerable expense.—Rev. John Macmillan. D.D. COWPER IN ‘THE TASK.’ Ten thousand casks For ever dribbling out their base contents Touched by the Midas linger of the State, Bleed gold for Ministers to sport away. Drink and bo mad,- then; ’tis your country bids; Gloriously drunk obey the important call! The cause demands the assistance of your throats; Ye all can swallow, and she asks no more. A CALL TO YOUTH. To youth is entrusted the power of achievement. The country’s wars aro fought and won by young men. Moral issues are determined by the prowess of enthusiastic youth. In sacred writ old men are appealed to for the wortli of their experience; the rallying cry for action is heralded to young men for reason of their valorous enthusiasm. Vivacious youth, animated by noble purposes, eager for adventure, is the most thrilling spectacle that can adorn the canvas! Base must be the ideals, twice dead the soul that does not covet the crowning honours awaiting devotion to a worthy cause. Twentieth century young folks, wluvt a chance! The expectant eyes of tlve world are upon yon. How glorious to be greeted by a task equal to your powers. You are no weaklings. Twonld be ignoble to ask for lessened tasks; but heroic to seek strength commensurate with stupendous difficulties. You may well congratulate yourselves upon being accounted worthy to match present-day conditions. Issues involving Christian civilisation are in the balance. Sobriety with its protecting safeguards is at death grips with intemperance and the cohorts of the pit. Reinforcements from the ranks of adolescence will be the decisive factors. Comes the opportunity for young people just assuming responsibility to conserve the honour of the nation, to rescue unfortunate comrades, and to win a crown of glory. Here is a challenge to the heroic and the brave. The stirring clarion call of Tennyson, pertinent to the present emergency,, should awaken intrepid youth to instant action ; Not of the sunlight, Not of the moonlight. Not of the starlight! 0 young mariner, Down to the haven Call your companions, Launch your vessel And crowd your canvas. Over the margin After it, follow it. Follow the gleam. DRINKING UNNECESSARY FOR POPULARITY. Five hundred senior and junior high school lads who were leaders of their groups in forty high schools of Massachusetts recently took part in a survey by a prominent leader in youth, work, on the subject of drinking. These lads were the captains of various athletic teams, editors of school papers, presidents of classes, and 433 of the 500 declared that alcohol in any form is injurious to one’s chances of success as an athlete; 403 said no in reply to the question as to whether it is necessary to drink to be popular: 421 said they had never touched liquor and had no desire to do so. The ‘ Pilgrim Highroad ’ gives the account of the survey. HOW’S THIS? A schoolboy, in an examination paper, answering a question as to the effects of alcohol on the bodily health wrote: ‘' Alcohol gives you a decease.” He got full marks. A correspondent who read an advertisement stating that Wincarnis was recommended by 10,000 doctors, wrote asking for the names of only lon of them, and received a rude reply on a post card telling him to mind his own business. Like the ten little nigger boys, in the end there were none. WHY HE COULDN’T. Pay his rent, Take a holiday, Get married. Help the hospital, Start on his own. It was not a drop in his wages, hut the “little drop” after he got his wages.