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SPECIAL PUBLIC EVILS.

[Part VI.

be slow in showing themselves, and may never be ascribed tothe real cause. If all diseases which terminate in death, couldspeak out at the grave, or tell their origin upon the coffin-lid, weshould witness the most appalling and unexpected disclosures.Happy the man, who so avoids the appearance of evil, as not toshorten his days by what he may call the prudent use of spirit-uous liquors.

A sin so odious in its nature, and so fatal in its consequences,should be detected in its origin and strangled at its birth ; butordinarily, instead of this, the habit is fixed, and the hope ofreformation is gone, before the subject has the least suspicion ofdanger. It is of the last importance, therefore, that the variousoccasions of intemperance should be clearly described, thatthose, whose condition is not irretrievable, may perceive theirdanger and escape, and that all, who are free, may be warnedagainst such occasions of temptation and ruin. For the benefit ofthe young, especially, I propose to lay down a map of the wayto destruction, and to wave a signal of warning upon every spotwhere a wayfaring man has been ensnared and destroyed.

1. The first occasion of intemperance, which I shall mention,is found in the free and frequent use of spirituous liquors in thefamily, as an incentive to appetite, an alleviation of lassitude, oran excitement to cheerfulness. In these reiterated indulgences,even children are allowed to partake, and the tender organs oftheir stomachs are early perverted, and predisposed to habits ofintemperance. No family, it is believed, accustomed to the dailyuse of ardent spirits, ever failed to plant the seeds of that dread-ful disease, which sooner or later produced a harvest of woe.The material of so much temptation and mischief ought not tobe allowed a place in the family, except as a medicine, and eventhen it would be safer in the hands of an apothecary, to be sentfor, like other medicines, when prescribed.

2. Spirituous liquors, given in the way of hospitality, are notunfrequently the occasion of intemperance. In this case, too,the temptation is habitual. The utensils are present, and theoccasions for their use are not unfrequent. And, when there isno guest, the sight of the liquor, the state of the health, or evenlassitude of spirits, may indicate the propriety of the “ prudent