I.

I will now speak of a habit which I believe[1] is, more than any other, debasing, degrading, and embruting to man[2], both[3] physically, intellectually, and morally. I am not going to give you an address[4] _full_ of my favourite theme [temperance], but I must speak of it[5]. I must speak of it before this assembly, for I shall never see you again till we meet on that day when we shall see things as they are[6]. Let me then speak of one habit which, in its power, and[7] influence, and[8] fascination, seems to rear its head like a Goliath or Saul above all its kindred agencies of demoralization; I allude to[9] the habit of using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, until that habit becomes a fascination[10]. You will allow me to give[11] my opinions upon these points freely. I consider drunkenness not merely to be a moral evil, but also a physical evil, and[12] it depends a great deal more upon the temperament, _and_ the constitution, and disposition of the young man, whether if he falls into the drinking usages of society, it becomes a habit or not, than it does upon his strength of mind or firmness of purpose[13].

Take a young man, and he shall be full of fire[14] and poetry. He shall be[15] of a nervous temperament and generous heart; fond of society, and open and manly in everything he does. Every one loves him. That is the man most liable to become intemperate.

[1] = as I believe.

[2] is ... to man, +auf den Menschen wirkt+.

[3] ‘both’, +hier und zwar+.

[4] to give an address to a person, +einem eine Rede halten+; of, +über+.

[5] +ich muß dasselbe aber wenigstens berühren+ (allude to).

[6] Render ‘for — are’ Liter. = for we shall see one another only (S. 109, N. 5) on that day, when (+wo+) we shall see (+schauen+) the things in their true form (+Gestalt+, f.).

[7] = in its.

[8] = and its.

[9] = I mean; of using — beverage = of drinking intoxicating liquors.

[10] until — fascination, +bis diese Gewohnheit einen zauberhaften Reiz auf den Menschen ausübt+.

[11] = express.

[12] Say ‘and when a young man once follows the general habit of taking intoxicating liquors, it depends, etc.’

[13] his — purpose, +seine Geistes- oder Willenskraft+.

[14] = who is full of (+voller+) fire.

[15] The student will do well to omit the words ‘He shall be’ and join this period to the preceding one.

_Section 230._

AN ORATION ON THE POWER OF HABIT.