The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-12-25
A WARNIIo TO YOUNG MEN.
Driven to Despair BY Tight Boots.

4
reporter was walking down Ontario
street in that city he met a young mar
whom at one time "none named but tc
praise" but now out OF respect for thu
past, the writer will call him Higgins
This unhappy individual was at ont
time the pride of his father, the joy o
his mother, the admiration of his nine
brothers. and the object Of alteration o.
mis- six sisters.
At this time Of which we speak
which was less than six years ago. he
was also the envy Of the young men,
and could have had his pick ont OF
several large families Of girls if he had
only intimated that he was on the pick
He WAS handsome, in the vigor OF
Young manhood, and his cheeks flush
wac undimmed by dissipation, and his
nerves not unstrung by late hours or
sinful practices
Such was Higgins Of a few years
since, but when the reporter met him
what change was visible, a change SO
terrible that the reporter could scarcely
refrain from weeping. Instead OF the
once bright and sparkling eve his OPP
tics were hloodshot, and one had been
very skillfrlly dressed in mourning
His nose that once cleaned with intel
ligence now presented a mottle1 and
purple appearance, and glowed with
he-v hue of the boiled lobster.
His hair and head were unkempt AMI
unshorn, while from each corner OF
his mouth well defined line marked
the pathway of the juice OF the India
weed when the tide and emotions were
nigh within. His shirt bosom once
white, now looked as il it had been
through hurricane OF tobacco juice,
but soled "a It was. III the center beam
ed one trace Of gentiiitv, in the shape
OF valuable diamond ss large as a
piece of boarding house cheese, which
could not at one time have been worth
more, nor less, than dollar, and was
evidently the only relic OF better DAYS
he had retained in his possession. His
feet were covered with a pair OF rub
bers. badly worn, while the remainder
of his clothing was shabby in the ex'
IRENE. He approached the newspaper
man. He then addressed the latter;
Halo, old boy (hic). I'm glad tn
see YOU" "Put your fipper there old
Teller, and shake. "Come in and wet
your whistle" The reporter firmly re.
fused the invitation to drink Gas all
newspaper attaches invariably do when
thus complimentary, but said he would
90 inside and see the other drink, which
was satisfactory, and the two aajourped
to a saloon where the outcast from so
ciety-the demoralized Huggins-told
his sad story, which we repeat as near
as possible in his own vords:
"A few years ago was a different
man, with money, health, friends, and
all else that could add to mans happ-
meas here below, at my command. i
was, as You well know, connected With
nv father in business, but in an evl
hour l purchased my first pair OF t'sh'
boots, and from that moment mI
course was downward. Oh would
that had the ear Of every Young mar
in the land condensed into one mann
moth auricular organ, and placed be
fore me, and that my voice was as louc
as the thunder OF Niagara, that nigh
veil 'heware! of the first pair OF tgh
boots But I digress
II carried my purchase home anr
nut them on, but in less than an hour
began 10 suffer Internal tormcnts, anc
BECAUSE my mother CHANGED to hit my
corn in passing, rinped out a fear'u
oath. which so shocked her she drop
ned the teapot full of hot tea on nv
father and scalded a bald spot on HI
venerable skull as large as Boston
cracker. He was a man who neVe'
lost his temper before, but the accIden
caused him to sieze the cat nv the TAI
and throw the poor animal at my
mother.
1T was a good shot ard knocked ou
four of tie latter's teeth, and frightened
the cat so that she busted up chimney
and was never seen afterward. Ihi'
was all that nv boots were respons'ol,
tor that day, but the next morning
nut them on again, and went down &c
the store. and az they began tn p1nct
me my temper grew sour, and l Insult
ed nv soreheaked parent and was a
onco licked ont Of his employ upon the
cold world.
~ then acted for while "a insurance
arent but did not succeed, and | passed
tbrouqb successive brief experience al
a lightning rod man, book pedd'er
sewing machine pau-sll downWar'
steps-untl finally l was 40 dehased a.
TO accept a nomination tor Congress
and that DESTROYED the little remaining
trace o. character left me.
al learned to chew, smoke ana ur,nh
and nv sustena nee was obtained az 're'
lunch resorts. To crown my misfortune
nv affinanced soured on me and mar
r;ed a street car conductor who hac
Knocked him down a competency IN s''
ears and was rich and respected
Since then / have wandered aroun'
town, an outcast from society,
az sometimes walk through the cor
r;iors of the Kenpard House. and SCI
the sports there. who once clasPed m,
hand in friendship. but they 10 n"
know me. never get invited up s'a'T
70 dine; and the portera and hrns'
broom bosses laugh at me "a go oy
and sometimes boy sprinkles wet saw
Just after me and sweeps out ever.
track have made. ,.,uo,
Il 90 into gin-mill when I ns,s
ton cent script, but instead OF wai''n'
70 ascertain the kind Of wine am on
the bsrkeepers pull mug OF beer Tn