The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-05-12
(rrom the S. of I. Offering, for ls53)
The Cold Water Fanatic.
BY I. g. ARTHUR.

Come, Parker,' said a young man
uamed Franklin, there's TO be a temper
anee meeting over at Mlriun Hall, Don't
% want 10 hear speech?
No, believe not was answered iudl.
erenly, 4 have litiie fancy Tor such
thIngs.'
.Slurgoss is in town, and ain told in
tends to speak
i heard him once, sud that was enough
Tor me- vas the reply. He's cold wa
er fanatic
This was said in group Of halt-a-dozen
men, most ut whom we're strangers Il
Parker. Some ol these looked at each
other with siguiticsnt glances. Here a
separation took place aud the parties moved
lwaN.
i expect YOU had better 60 with me,
said Parker riend, who followed him. IL
Slurgass is little enthusiastic in the cause,
he is et very Interesting lecturer. Per,
haps he may say something that will set
even you to thinking
Il am not drunkard,' returned Por.
ker.
No; still YOU arc no, beyond the reach
of danger. No man is, who daily gratifes
desire for a glass OF brandy.
'D1n't you believe ! could do without
liz?
Certainly, you could do without it nou.
why do you say notc SO emphaticallN ?
i cannot promise for the future. You
are not ignorant of the power OF habit
Upon my word! you are complimentary
Then you really believe me in danger OF
becoming a drunkard?-
Every man who takes daily glass OF
brandy, is in that danger
'You really believe itF
Most assuredIS! How are drunkards
made? You are not ignorant OF the pro,
cess. Every river has It's beginning IN a
scarcely noticed stream. Ask the most
beso,ted nebriate for the history of his fall,
md you will find a part Of that history
running parallel with your own al the pres
ent time
Parker went to Marion Hall, which he
found crowded. After some difficulty in
procuring a seat. he made out to get one
very near tho platform, upon which was
seated the President and secretary of one
IF the temperance associations in the place,
with two or three others who were 10 act
"a sneakers. One of these latter was
man past the prime of life. His hair was
thin and gray, and his face lean aud with
cred: but his dark restless eyes showed
that within was an active spirit. This was
Sturgess, the individual before referred to-
After the usual preliminaries, necessary
N such occasions, he arose to address the
meeting. For some time he stood with his
eyes moving ,hro' the audience. All was
hushed to profound silence; and there was
4 breathless expectation throughout tn
room. Sturgess' usual style was impul.
,ive. lie was more given to defamation
than argument; generally carving his
hearers with him by the force of strong en-
lhusiasm.
NV friends he at length said, in low,
subdued, Vet thrilingly distinct voice.
Ills manner. to those who had before listen.
ed to him. was so difieren, from what was
expected, ,ha, they felt q double interest
m the orator, and bent forward, eager to
catch every word.
INV frienls,' he repeated, "a little over
| half an hour ago, an incident occurred
which has so checked the current OF my
thoughts and feelings, that find myself in
state better fitted for the socluson OF my
chamber, than for public speaking. 1t is
weakness, know, but even tho best of lis
are no, able at all times TO rise above oul
| weaknesses. was conversiug with 4
friend in the midst Of a group Of men, some