Primary Sources
Advice to Young Women and Young Men (1836)
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Advice to Young Women and Young Men (1836)
~Transcription~
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To Young Women, - It has been thought by some, unnecessary to address the
female sex, on the subject of temperance we think far otherwise. They are
personally exposed to the danger of becoming intemperate. We know three
ladies of highly respectable standing, who have during the last year died
of intemperance. Their influence is great and we bespeak this for the
temperance cause. It is the cause of purity, of holiness, of our country
and of God. But above all, we address young ladies, that we may warn them
of the danger of associating or connecting themselves with such as drink
intoxicating drinks. Many an unsuspecting female has been led to her ruin
by such drinks, and many a lovely woman had dragged out a miserable
existence, with a drunken husband. Oh, the misery of such a union! What
unkindness what abuse what brutality! Young women! Would you avoid such a
fate look well to your associates. Touch not the fatal cup yourself give
not your affections to any one, until you have every reasonable certainty
that total abstinence from intoxicating drinks is his motto.
To Young Men, - Young men are the hope of their country and the world. But
can they be of service to their country or to the world, if they are
intemperate? An intemperate ruler, or judge, or minister, or physician, or
lawyer, or citizen of any class what greater curses can be inflicted on a
community? Young men are the hope of their parents, and the desire of a
child ought to be, to gladden the hearts of the authors of its existence
to make their declining years peaceful to smooth their passage to the
grave. But what sorrow will pierce their hearts, if you are
intemperate. What bitterness will fill their souls if you walk in the
paths of the drunkard! Young men look forward with beating hearts to the
attainment of the favorite object of their ambition. But what will the
possession be worth if you are intemperate? Wealth, honor, character,
friends; all vanish before this fell destroyer. Young man, whomsoever you
are, if you drink a drop of intoxicating liquor, you are in danger of
contracting the fatal habit of intemperance. There is no safety, but in
the practice of TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
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From The Temperance Almanac by the New York State Temperance
Society (Albany, 1836)
Edited by the Museum Education Department at Old Sturbridge Village
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