INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
675 
The President of the United States, Mr. Buchanan, in his 
reply to the congratulations of the students of the Franklin 
and Marshall College, on his election, after thanking them 
and giving them advice respecting their studies, and urging 
them to consider the responsibility that rested upon them to 
acquire knowledge, said : “ There was one habit which if 
formed at college and in early youth would cling to them in 
after life and blight the fairest prospects. He alluded to 
the use of intoxicating liquors, and declared that it would be 
better for that youth who had contracted an appetite for 
strong drink that he were dead, or had never been born ; for 
when he saw a young man entering upon such a career, a 
fondness for liquor becoming with him a governing passion, 
he could see nothing before him but a life of sorrow, and a 
dishonorable grave in his old age . 55 The President might 
have added — if ever he should arrive at it ; since most drunk- 
ards become prematurely old, and die unpitied while yet 
comparatively young. Solomon has admonished us “not to 
be among wine-bibbers ; 55 nor “to look upon the wine when 
it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth 
itself aright ; for at the last it biteth like a serpent and 
stingeth like an adder . 55 
The fluids I would advise you to substitute are tea and 
coffee ; these being both refreshing and exhilarating. “ Tea 
also increases the power of digesting the impressions we 
have received. We become by it disposed for thoughtful 
meditation, and, in spite of the movements of thought, the 
attention can be easily fixed upon a certain object ; a sensa- 
tion of comfort and cheerfulness ensues, and the creatine ac- 
tivity of the brain is set in motion ; while, through the 
greater collectedness and the more closely confined atten- 
tion, the thoughts are not so apt to degenerate into desulto- 
riness . 55 Yet even this may be taken in excess; when in- 
creased irritability takes place, accompanied with restlessness 
and trembling of the limbs. 
“ While tea revives the faculty of judgment, and communi- 
cates a sensation of cheerfulness, coffee acts on the reasoniug 
faculty, without giving to the imagination a much higher 
degree of liveliness ; the powers of observation are by it 
increased, those of the judgment sharpened, while our activity 
of thoughts and ideas are manifested. In excess, it causes 
sleeplessness, and a state of excitement similar to intoxication, 
in which images, thoughts, and wishes, rapidly succeed each 
other. This, however, is quickly thrown off by exposure to 
the open air . 55 These statements I have condensed from a 
work recently published by Professor Moleschott, of Zurich. 
