the uncommercial traveller-第105章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



use　them　without　abusing　them；　that　I　perceived　total　abstinence

from　horseflesh　to　be　the　only　remedy　of　which　the　case　admitted。

As　it　is　all　one　to　teetotalers　whether　you　take　half　a　pint　of

beer　or　half　a　gallon；　so　it　was　all　one　here　whether　the　beast　of

burden　were　a　pony　or　a　cart…horse。　　Indeed；　my　case　had　the

special　strength　that　the　half…pint　quadruped　underwent　as　much

suffering　as　the　half…gallon　quadruped。　　Moral：　　total　abstinence

from　horseflesh　through　the　whole　length　and　breadth　of　the　scale。

This　pledge　will　be　in　course　of　administration　to　all　teetotal

processionists；　not　pedestrians；　at　the　publishing　office　of　'All

the　Year　Round；'　on　the　1st　day　of　April；　1870。



Observe　a　point　for　consideration。　　This　procession　comprised　many

persons　in　their　gigs；　broughams；　tax…carts；　barouches；　chaises；

and　what　not；　who　were　merciful　to　the　dumb　beasts　that　drew　them；

and　did　not　overcharge　their　strength。　　What　is　to　be　done　with

those　unoffending　persons？　　I　will　not　run　amuck　and　vilify　and

defame　them；　as　teetotal　tracts　and　platforms　would　most　assuredly

do；　if　the　question　were　one　of　drinking　instead　of　driving：　　I

merely　ask　what　is　to　be　done　with　them！　　The　reply　admits　of　no

dispute　whatever。　　Manifestly；　in　strict　accordance　with　teetotal

doctrines；　THEY　must　come　in　too；　and　take　the　total　abstinence

from　horseflesh　pledge。　　It　is　not　pretended　that　those　members　of

the　procession　misused　certain　auxiliaries　which　in　most　countries

and　all　ages　have　been　bestowed　upon　man　for　his　use；　but　it　is

undeniable　that　other　members　of　the　procession　did。　　Teetotal

mathematics　demonstrate　that　the　less　includes　the　greater；　that

the　guilty　include　the　innocent；　the　blind　the　seeing；　the　deaf　the

hearing；　the　dumb　the　speaking；　the　drunken　the　sober。　　If　any　of

the　moderate　users　of　draught…cattle　in　question　should　deem　that

there　is　any　gentle　violence　done　to　their　reason　by　these　elements

of　logic；　they　are　invited　to　come　out　of　the　procession　next

Whitsuntide；　and　look　at　it　from　my　window。









End