The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-05-20

Il CT usual SOyiS was lulpulSlN6. ne
was more given to defamation than
argument; generally carrying his hear
ers with him by the force of strong
enthusiasm, J
My friends he at length said, ID
a low, subdued, yet thrilling, distinct
voice. His manner TO those who had
before listened to him, was so differ
ent from what was expected, that they
felt double interest in the speaker
and bent forward, eager to catch eve,
ry word.
MY friends, he repeated, a little
over a half an hour ago, an incident
occurred, which has so checked the
current of my thoughts and feelings,
that find myself in state better fit
ted for the secIusion of my chamber,
than for public speaking. 1t is a
weakness, | know; but even the best
of us are not at all times able to rise
above our weakness. ! was convers,
ing with friend in the midst of a
group of men, some of whom were UNI
known to me, when one of the latter
pror osed to an acquaintance whom he
called by name, an attendance upon
this meeting. i have no fancy for
such meetings. was answered. 'Stur.
CESS is to speak, was advanced as an
argument. He is a cold water lanat-
ic,' said young man, with sneer.
There was most perfect stillnes
throughout the room. All eyes were
fixed upon Sturgess, whose low, sub
dued tone of voice, so unusual for
him, made a marked impression on
the audience. He stood for some mo-
ments again, silent, his piercing eye
seerching everywhere.
IT, he resumed, in the same low,
halfsad, impressive voice, that young
man were here tonight, l would feel
it my duty as well as privilege, to
tell him why have become what he
calls a cold fanatic-why l let forth
my whole soul in this cause-why |
am at times veay enthusiastically
| arn probably a little Incorporate in
my crusade against the monster vice,
that has desolated our homes and
robbed US of the sweet promise God
oncegave us in our children
|. The speakers voice trembled-but
now it was lost in sob. In a mo-
ment he recovered himself, and went
on, still in the same low, searching
tones.
/ In the sweet promise of our child
ren; where are they? l look all
around this large audience. There
sits an old friend; and there, and there.
| Like mine, their heads are bloSsoming
for eternity. Long years ago, we
started side by side on the journey of
. life. We had our wives and our little
ones around us then. Where are they
. nowP
Another longpause and deep silence
followed. The dropping of a pin
could be heard in that crowded assem-
bly,.
When my thoughts 60 wandering
back to that olden time, resumed the
speaker, 'and see in imagination,
the bright hearth fire, now extin,
guished, and hear, in imagination, the
glad voices Of children, now hushed
forever, and when think of what has
caused this sad change, | do not won
der that | have been all on fire, as i
were; that have appeared to some
as a mere cold water fanatic
4 wish that young man were here
tonight; and, perhaps he is here.
will, at any rate, take his presence 70,
granted, and make briefly my address
to him.
You have called me, my friend
a cold water fanatic. If you had salt
enthusiast, l should have liked tn
term better. But no matter-a ia