Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-07-24
Tho Power of Music.

! Ono evening some time since, rs Mr..
theodore +. Perkins was sitting in the
room OF the Howard Mission, New York
conversing with the Rev. Mr.. Van Meter.
they were interrupted by the entrance Of
wild looking man who exclaimed
''ls Awful Gardiner" here?"
! NO" replied Mr.. Van Meter.
Then, exclaimed the man, in accents
OF despair. II am lost. If Awful Gardiner
was here. he could save me he'd know how
because he's been the same road but now
I'm lostl" and drawing a bowie knife from
under his vest, he was abou, to plunge it
into his bosom when Mr.. Van Meter sprang
forward and caught his arm. Seeing it
would be useless TO attempt to wrest the
knife from his grasp. Mr.. Van Meter sought
IA distract the mans attention from his sui
cidal purpose but the unfortunate creature
was seized with 6t OF delirium iremens
and became unmanageable.
Mr.. Perkins. not knowing what else to
do, sat down at the melodeon and began 10
play and sing. Come We disconsolate.',
The effect was magical. The man became
sufficiently calm for Mr. Van Meter to march
him up and down the room while Mr.. Per.
kins continued to play and sing. From
Come ye disconsola,e," he struck into
Jesus, TO thy dear arms flee" The ef.
feet as still more marked. After singing
that bcautiiml hymn, Mr. P.rki ms com
menccd, Flee bird TO your mountain. >"
As the strains OF this exquisite composition
hilod theToom. the maniac paused, sat down,
covered his hands and sobbcd like 4 child
or rather like broken hearted remorse.
full man. BY this time Mrs. Meter, who
was present when the man first burst into
the room, came in with a bowl Of strong
coffee. which she had ihonghtfully made,
and as soon as the weeping stranger became
sufficiently compc sed, she gave it to him.
That quieted his nerves and renewed his
strength, and in little while he became
completely restored to the possession OF his
faculties.
WHO is this man?" was the question
which rose spontaneously TO the lips of bis
dcliverers. But all efforts TO ascertain who
he was proved fruitless. He persisfenuy
refused TO give his name or TO furnish anv
clue TO his residence or identify. Mr. Per
kins accompanied him to the ST. Nicholas
hotel where he took room under an as.
snmed name. But in the conversation he
had chanced TO mention a clergyman living
IN Newport, II / whom Mr. Van Meter
knew The latter Immediately wrote to the
clergyman, stating the case, and asking him
TO come to the city. The clergyman came
10y the first boat, and was taken at once TO
the hotel where they fortunately found the
poor man. The clergyman knew him we'll.
He was a rich resident Of the city of Hart
ford, Conn, highly connected a married
man and the father Of several children. On
coming into his pati mony, he had taken to
dissipation, and the result is indicated in
the foregoing sketch. But his day ofsalva.
tion had come. The clergyman took him
back to Hartford. lie threw OF the thral-
dom to rum which had dcgraled him.-ITe
took his former position in society and he
is now living in Hartford, a respected
Christian man. and aTording to his own
person and history the most remarkable in.
stance oitbe triumph Of music over delir-
ipm that has ever come to our knowledge.
!, y Y. Journal Of Music.
-Orvilis Gardiner wns a reformed druukard, CARA
Der, and pusli't once noted in New York city.