TEMPERANCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 866, 5 October 1888, Page 7

TEMPERANCE.

A NOBLE STAND. The temperance cause in the town of M was in its infancy. A very feeble infancy, too, for there was a drinking saloon at almost every corner, and the reeling, intoxicated men were so common in the streets that no one ever glanced at them. The liquor sellers boasted that more money was paid by them for licenses than in other towns three times the size of M . No drinking man sank in public estimation unlesss he lost his credit, and had no money to stand treats. A temperance lecturer, a very eloquent man, found his way to M , and the people listened,- laughed, and, at the close of his lecture, hooted him off the stand. But a band of noble women, the wives and mothers of some of the prominent citizens of M , took up the work, and set forth on a hopeless crusade against the demon of in. temperance, who had set his mark on the forehead of their friends and relatives. They were too well known, too high in position, for the people to treat them as they had done the lecturer ; but they failed as signally in reforming their, hearers. There was a large garden party given in M , where all the young people of both sexes had assembled. Among the refreshments served were, as usual, a variety of wines. A sweeit.faced, modest girl, a great favourite with her companions, taking a wineglass, rose from her seat, her fair face flushing and paling alternately. ' ‘Friendß.’ she said in a firm, clear voice, 4 we have most of us been brought up together, and when trouble or joy came to one, the others were ready with their sympathy or rejoicing. Therefore, if we have a common enemy, we would unite against it, would we not ? ’ 4 Yes, yes!’ from all her astonished hearers. 4 Well, then, I say we have a common enemy, one that menaces either directly and indirectly our happiness. Here it is, ’ holding up the wineglass, and throwing its contents out of an open window. 4 This night I take ray stand openly against it, and those who range themselves with the evil thing are no longer my friends. Surely you will not leave me alone in my resolution?' Under that roof that night thirty young people took the pledge. Look at M to-day, and tell me what became of the saloons and the topers. Those who were too old to reform are no longer found reeling tbrough the streets, a wholesome shame keeping them within doors. Popular opinion, led by the enthusiastic young reformers, was too strong for them. All this was the work of a yonng girl of eighteen, neither very handsome nor exceptionally intelligent, but filled with a high purpose, and a fervent faith, and the magnetism of youth to influence her young companions.

The President of America, who has been accustomed to take a glass of wiue at dinner, or occasionally at other times, is said to have yielded to a request of Mrs Cleveland to totally abandon the nsa of liquors.