TEMPERANCE COLUMN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 5

TEMPERANCE COLUMN

ADAM'S PA'

We cull from the Scot, Melbourne, a revised version of a story which John R. Gough, in bis own inimitable way, made familiar, but -which may bo new lo most of the present generation. In the western part of Scotland a long time ago a certain, minister was in the habit of visiting hie parishioners two or three times a year, the better to observe tho result of his ministrations, and, incidentally to catechise them on the knowledge of tlie Bible. As the parish was widely scattered, the members of his church, in certain localities, for convenience Kakc, used to meet in some house, agreed upon, to await the visit of tho minister. On this particular occasion tho house selected was kept by Adam Forsyth and his wife Janet. On the appointed day the neighbours kept dropping iii,. until all the chairs and settles wore filled. As the minister was late for' fiomo reason or other, the conversation lagged, and a feeling of depression pervaded the room. Georgie Wilson at last suggested that, in order to relieve the tedium and sharpen their wits for the questions that tho minister might propound, a half-mutchkin of Ulonlivet whisky would probalily accomplish both ends. The necessary amount having been subscribed, Adam : was delegated to go round_ the corner to Kirsty Killop's and bring 'back tlie Avhisky. Adam, however, in his teste to get 'back to the house before the arrival of the minister, stumbled and fell, breaking the bottle of whisky, and inflicting several sundry bruises on Iris face, so that Janet, seeing ■the .minister coming across the street, locked Adam in the. press bed to avoid a scene.

After the usual saluations had been exchanged, the minister looked sternly at Janet, and said:

: " What was the cause of Adam's Fa"i" ' Eli I Losji me, whit'r, that?" "What was the cause of Adam's Fa'?" repeated the minister. . "Weel, Pll no' tell yet a lee, it wis , this way, yo ken. Adam, jist tee be i neeborly, went oot for a wee drap whisky ■ ta keep oor 'sperits up till ye cam', but • the stupid bodie on his road hame feel doon and scartit his face and dirtit his ' elaes; here, Adam, come oot o' that press ' bed, the minister kens a' aboot it!" DANGER SIGNALS IN PARIS. In many cities of Europe the authorities put up bill-boards containing warnings against the danger of the drink habit and traffic, • Liquor dealers make serious objections to this action, but the answer is given that as signal- lights are put out to avert, danger, as flags are displayed to keep people away from contagious diseases, so the community has a perfect right to call attention to the moral dangers that are in the way of men, according to'this custom. Tho French Anti-Alcohol Society, in pursuance of its campaign against strong drink, is dismaying, on walls and other suitable places in Paris bills on which are printed sentences like these: "Alcohol nowadays is responsible for more ravages than pestilence, famine, war.—Gladstone:" "Do you know what that man is drinking from tlie gla'ES which shakes in ■ his trembling hand'/ He is drinking the tears.and the Wood and the life of his wife and children.— Lamotuiais." "Alcohol gives neither Strength nor warmth nor happiness. It does nothing but harm,—Tolstoi." "T. P." ON TEETOTAL POLITICIANS. Mr T. P. O'Connor, M.P., in an appreciatory article on Mr Lloyd-George, says: "If I were a 'modem Cassar, the men I would dread in political life are not tho lean and the hungry, but the men who are tho, teetotallers. It may be that tho removal of the soothing influence'of wine-that potent elixir which brightens and fioftens &o many horns— gives to the teetotaller a keenness of interest, a perennial freshness of vigour and effort. Whatever the reason, the most formidable and most ambitious politicians in my ■ experience aro the teetotallers. It is such a safeguard from moot of the weaknesses of the flesh—love of pleasure, love of ease, love of luxuryabove all, from that uncertainty of nerve which is as fatal to a politician as to any other, athlete who haa to enter the ring daily. Witli his fresh-complexioned face, lus everlasting alertness of air and manner, his clear, quick, searching eye, his perfect equanimity of spirits, his equal readiness for peace and for war/ and, above all, with that sense of being always perfectly normal, Lloyd-George is a striking example of what compensations Nature gives to the man who has the courage of self-denial."