The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-07-28
VOLUME III-NUMBER II.

pylnb TOolIlS CIoSc W my UWu III biuooih
Inn that he had the reputation OF
great talent, and was now, or had been
lately, the master spirit of one Of our
best and most witty periodicals.
In general, he was perfectly sober,
knowing his own weakness, and abstain
ing altogether from strong drink /; but
twice before, though never quite SO to-
tally, he had been reduced to the posi-
ton in which he now groaned and gasped
before me. o! there are many Carsons
in the world, and 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 and tot
tering 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 COM
mission of an open homicide, handed him
a tumbler nearly full. He gulped it
down, though an innate loathing con-
vulsed his face, and it was evident that
the stomach sought to reject the un-
welcome drug with which it was already
saturated and corroded.
He paused for moment, and grim
smile crept over his besotted features,
as he felt the invigorating stimulus
"Bitters gin more :" said he
boarsely, handing back his tumbler to
be filled f; and the girl who prayed each
Sunday in Christian church, and heard
the command, "Thou shalt not kill,''
give him what he asked for.
Why enter into the minut@ of a pic
ture, the far more dreadful reality of
which is to be seen every day and hour
in every tavern throughout the world :
Suffice it to say, that few more glasses
of gin and brandy restored the victim to
his senses. He was in high spirits and
joked with me on the wretchedness of
his own condition. He told me he had
heard every word of my conversation
with the landlord but was at the time
unable to think or speak, not having
had his comforter" and he smiled as
he drained another glass.
I asked him home to my chambers,
and as we walked down Chancery Lane
l saw that men, the first and most re-
spected in our profession, bowed and
smiled sadly at him as they passed.
Coming into my rooms he called for
more 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, that's a
good fellow" he replied "l let me have
just another glass and then III dress
myself, and come out and talk to you
like Judge, wiser than three-fourths of
them in the bargain, for l have not only
the letter of the law, but the spirit in
me-"
showed him into the bedroom, and
as he washed himself, he told me that
he had neither washed nor combed his
hair for the past week, "nor would
even 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 I never drank, but they
were old college chums, and insisted,
they laughed at me, so drank and
here 1 am now, sober by excess Of
brandy, restored to reason by that which
would make other men insane"
There was a bitter sarcasm, a vain
regret, dreadful mookery of his own
weakness and misery in his tone, though
q smile curled his handsome features.
Yes, handsome, despite the bloodshot
eye, and the bloated cheek.
Now that he had removed the blood
aud dirt which disfgured him, l thought
l had never seen finer face or one so
intellectual. The forehead was broad
and massive, the eyes large, dark, deep
set, and with long rich lashes placed
wide apart under the brow. His nose,
though somewhat thick, was purely
Grecian and regularly shaped his lips
contrary to the received doctrine Of
pbysiognomists, we're finely arched and
flexible; and . square dimpled chin