Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-04
CURED OF DRINKING.
A Young Cfncinnatian Sees n Ghost
and Reforms.

From the Cincinnati Times.l
Reformations through means of q
healthy scare are not unfrequent A
touch Of delirium tremens has sometimes
been more successful in arresting the
downward feet of the drunkard than all
the temperance lectures in the world. A
young man of this city, who shall be
nameess, got fright the other night
that may have a salutary effect upon
him, although there was really nothing
in it. He has basement office on Third
street, somewhere between Broadway
and Elm-we won't be particular just
where. He has been quite dissipated OF
late, and generally resorts to his office
for the purpose Of sleeping off his de-
bauch. The other night, rather late, he
stumbled in there with heavy load
aboard.
A watchman on the street, knowing
him and observing his movements, fol-
lowed him and looked in upon him over
the door, the gas being turned on within.
The young man was walking, or more
properly, staggering up and down the
Office, mutterlng to himself IN apparent
repentance, This won't do old boy; got
to stop it; first thing you know you'll
have EN-.
Just at that moment he CHANGED to
turn his head, and caught sight Of the
watchman's face over the door He
started, turned pale, then gave a little
forced laugh, as much as to say, "Pshaw
it S nothing-only shadow" and turned
and walked on. But he came back,
looked again, and there was the face. He
twisted his head one way to look at it,
end then he twisted it another, yet still
it was there. He viewed it from one side
of the door and then he walked over and
took look at it from the other-yet still
there was the same pale, steady and
silent face watching him. With nervous
and trembling hand he then unlocked
the door, opened it with shifting knees
and looked timidly out. But nothing
was to be seen, the watchman to whom
the face belonged having quietly re-
treated.
Theyoung man then closed and lock-
ed the door, and continued his prone
made, saying, 81 was afraid it would
come to this-carried this thing too far
got to seeing things and with his
pocket-handkerchief he wiped the per-
spiration that was starting freely from
his brow. Approaching the door again
there was that hated face, its wild eyes
staring in upon him through the tran
som. Again he viewed it from all pos
sible stand-points, and endeavored to
convince himself that it was but the
"baseless fabric of vision But no 60.
He unlocked the door more trembling
than before, but as before nothing was to
be seen but the opposite building and the
bit of starlit sky above.
This was repeated for the third time,
when, unable to endure the specter any
longer, he sailed out on to the street.
He came upon a trio of watchmen lone
of them his persecutor), and inquired
whether or not they had seen any one
lowering around his office. None Of
them had, although they had been there
for ten or fifteen minutes past. He told
them of the face over his door, and sug-
gested that it might be burglar, hoping
they would relieve his mind by saying it
probably was. But.no; they wouldn't
leave him that hope. They had been on
particular lookout for burglars that
night on Third street. and there was
nary burg"
At length his tormentor suggested
that as he had been drinking heavily of
late he had probably got a touch of the
jim,iams This settled him, and he
hurried away to drug store to get some
thing to settle his nerves, but didn't dare
return to his office, sleeping at a hotel
instead. And he has slept there nights
ever since. He escaped the "jim-jam
that time, but he hasn't touched a drop
of liquor since, and declares he never
will, though the specter face is mystery
to him still.