DOES BEING AN ABSTAINER PAY?

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 38

DOES BEING AN ABSTAINER PAY?

By Mubray aston.

Of course I don't deny that I have always been the possessor of an extravagant nature. My friends say that I am neithei more nor less than a spendthrift, but I affirm solemnly that they are radically wrong in their estimate of my character ; and, although I like to have the best of everything", wLioh is quite natural to a man reared as I wan, in'the very lap of luxury, still, I am constantly exercising the noble practice of self-denial, as if I only bought all that inclination prompted me to I should require a well filled purse indeed. lam bound, however, to attach some importance to the warnings of those who I know have my interest really at heart, and therefore am ever watching against what I am sure must be a weak point in my moral character. So far tbe result has not been so satisfactory as my friends cculd desire, and I wish I could solve the reason.

The income allowed me by my father — I have always been in the habit of speakiDg of him as my "forther "—has been L2O monthly, payable in advance, and considering that ]j have nothing to pay for board and residence, since I still live under the paternal roof, I should have no difficulty in making ends meet. Indeed, my forther says that I, should save at least HOO every jear which, in 20 years, with compound interest added, at only 5 per cent, per annum would mean enough capitalthe interest from which should suffice to keep me socufortably for the remainder of my life. I formerly was, I own, particularly fond ol a glass of wine, and had no objection to varying the potion by a draught of good ale, and I confess that the bulk of my allowance ha 3at times been frittered away in the purchase of stimulant?, not that I could be ever called a sot, for of drunkards I have and always bad an almost pious horror.

I am only 23, and possess, I may tell you, a large circle of acquaintances. We are a convivial set of young sparks, and the most of us belong to tho "H. U." division, which.

being interpreted means that we are shor* 3UBt now of ready cash. I have been looked up to naturally enough by the circle aforesaid smce occasionally I have bsen seen with more than 10 sovereigns at a time. When I cash my draft I prefer gold, tho notes are so confoundedly dirty in the colonies you know and are quite likely to convey infection 1 could tell you of several cases that have come to my knowledgo of severe illnessfevers, which were traced without doubt to the possession of some horrid notes bo I never risk that.

Well, being the head as it were o£ my circle naturally I like, in return for their pclife attention, to ask the important question " What's yours 7 " and as this happens several times in the course of each day towards the end of the month I have always been in an impecunious state.

"Why don't 1 give up such folly?" do you ask. Well, I did try once, and think perhaps you might like to hear the result from a pecuniary point of view. I know from salutary considerations I was a distinct gainer. I had no idea that one's health suffered so from an excess of liquor until I tried doing without it altogether.

My experience was not altogether a happy one. For tho first few days of my abstinence I felt certainly very low and quite dejected, but after a time I began to get mj appetite back, my sleep was lighter, and my pocket was heavier. I had actually several shillings at the end of the.month, and visions of large sums of money for investment at the end of 20 years were floating— hazily, I confessbefore me. Visions, too, of matrimor.y which occasionally presented themselves, were not sent to the rightabout quite so promptly as before, and generally I began to look upon myself as an elegible " parti." The second month of my life as an abstaiuer dawned upon me ; wh6n, alas, my weakness began to reassert itself. I had no craving lor strorig drink, believe me, but that demon of extravagance was at me, for ever gnawing" at my heart strings. " I did not drink," the tempter argued, "surely you may buy that three-and-sixpenny knife." I did not want it, having a very good one already, but " I did not drink." " Surely there can be no harm id going up town in that brand new hansom cab, I don't drink! ' "Mr hat," a very good one by the waj, "should be re* placed by a new one. I can afford it, for I do not drink." "My juvenile brothers and sisters at home should have a few oranges. I can afford it, for Ido not drink." All this sort of tiling went on, bo it remembered, at the early part of the second month, and sad to relate at the end of the first 10 days I was penniless, and— I did not drink ! "

And then it began to dawn upon me that although total abstinence was certainly a great help in the practice of economy, still it should not be regarded as a juvenile gold mine, and that even the young person who has donned the bit of blue is not justified in an unnecessary outlay on knives, bansom cabs, hats, or oranges.