Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-07-27

learned on enquiry from the landlord,
that Mr.Garsou was Barrister, occupying
rooms close to my own in Lincoln's Inn ;
that he had the reputation of great talent ;
and was now, or had been lately, the master
spirit Of one Of our best aud most witty pc.
riodcals.
In general he was perfectly sober, know
ing his own weakness, aud abstaining alto
gethcr from strong drink; but twice before,
during the past year, he had broken through
his resolution; and twice before. though
never quite so totally, he had been reduced
to the position in which he now groaned
and gasped before me. Oh there are many
Carsons in the world aud many landlords.
who, while they pity him, never think that
the trade by which they profit, is the poison
by which he dies.
Arising slowly from his seat aud totteriug
to the bar, he now rested his elbows on the
brass rod and muttered through his set
teeth" Drink Gin! !"
The bar.maid, pretty girl, and one who
would have shrunk from the commission Of
an open homicide handed him a tumb!er
nearly full. He gulped it down, though an
innate loathing convulSed his face, and it
was evident that the stomach sought to re.
iect the unwelcome drug with which it was
already saturated and corroded.
He paused for a moment, and grim
smile crept over his besotted features, as he
felt the invigorating stimulus.
"Bitters Gin more r' said he hoarse-
ly, handing back his tumbler to be filled !;
and the girl who prayed each Sunday in a
Christian Church, and heard the command
Thou shalt not kill" gave him what he
asked.
Why enter into the minutie Off picture,
the far more dreadful reality of which is to
be seen every day and honr in every tavern
throughout the world9 Suffice it, that a
few more glasses of gin and brandy restor-
ed the victim to his senses. He was in high
spirits and ioked with me on the wretched.
ness of his own condition. He told ME
that he had heard every word of my con.
versation with the landlord hut was at that
time unable to think or speak, not having
had his comforter,"o and he smiled as he
drained another glass.
asked him home to my chambers, and
as we walked down Chancery Lane | saw
that men, the first and most respected in our
profession, bowed aud smiled sadly at him
as they passed
Coming into my rooms he called for
brandy.
"Why will you take more of this, when
you have just told me that you know it is
killing you!"
"Pshaw! don't preach now, there's a
good fellow" he replied, "let me have Just
another glass; and then l'll dress myself,
and come out and talk to you like Judge,
wiser than three. .four,hs of them into the
bargain, for have not only the letter Of the
law but the spirit in me-
showed him into the bed room, and as
he washed himself he told me that he had
neither washed nor combed his hair for the
past week, "nor would now," said he,
!" only that you happened to stumble on me
in there. Some friends pressed me to join
them in champagne about ten days ago; |
pleaded that never drank, but they were
old college chums, and insisted they laugh.
ed at me, so | drank and here | am now,
sober by excess of brandy, restored to my
reason by that which would make three
other men insane"