Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-10-31
1.-THE. ..s.vTI- .u.s.v."
BY REV. ]. T. CRANE, d. d.

| BY REV. j. t. CRANE, ID. ID.
Sundry men and things connected with
the recent National Temperance convention
held at Saratoga, have already been de-
scribed in the columns of the Times, but
there was one present, in some respects the
most notable of all, who has not there been
named. The occasion which introduced
him to the convention was unique. One of
the speakers wandered for moment from
the regular line of the debate to make
thrust at tobacco. When he took his seat
gentleman evidently three-score and ten,
or even more, but erect, portly, and with
| very genial face, rose up, and in some
what formal and yet humorous way, OK
pressed his gratitude for the sentiment
which had just been uttered.
"Sir," said he, 81 thank. you for that ut
terance. l have the honor TO be the presi
dent of the American and Foreign Anti
Tobacco Society. am. at the same time
the secretary and the treasurer am also
the board of directors. I may add that 1
am, in fact, the society. Sir, the American
and Foreign Anti-Tobacco Society thanks
you for the encouragement afforded by the
remarks which you have just made" And
then the American and Foreign Anti-To-
bacco Society bowed with digni ity and
grace, and took his seat amid applause.
"Who is that? ?" we asked. "That is the
Rev. George Trask, the anti-tobacco agita-
tor" was the reply. 1 confess that I was
surprised and can hardly tell why. 1 had
heard for years of George Trask, the ire
pressible foe of the weed, and had some-
how formed mental portrait of him. had
figured him as a lean, cadaverous man
stern oil aspect, slow OF speech, in whose
presence men spoke in low tones as If at q
funeral. But here he was, rosy, happy
old gentleman, with an attractive face, and
a satisfactory equatorial diameter. l men
ton the last item in no trifling spirit. The
ancient philosophers agreed that the most
perfect form is the sphere.
1 afterwards sought an introduction to
Mr.. Trask, and learned something Of his
history and operations. The veteran re-
former was Norn in Essex county, Massa-
chusetts, some time before the advent of
the present century. He was educated at
Brunswick and Andover, and became a
minister of the ospel. He has been set
tied in various places during the last half
century among them tFramingham, War
rem, Fitchburg. The place last named is
now his home. In early life he became adj
di ted to tobacco, and was, as he states, for
twenty years its victim. So powerful was
its hold upon him, that he became, as he says,
'emaciated, tremulous and cowardly," and
at the very gates of DEATH" He declared
war against his enemy, fought fierce bat
tie with it, and conquered. Exulting in
his victory, and feeling joy in every fibre
of his body, he thenceforth was an enthu-
sastic advocate of reform. He began to
preach occasionally on the subject, and lee
ture, wherever he found an audience. He
addressed ministerial bodies, Sunday
schools, day schools, and students of col
leges and academies. He employed the
press TO disseminate his arguments and
appeals. Wherever he could get access to
men, either collectively or individually, he
labored with high and low, rich and poor,
Jew and GENTLE, bond and free. And from
, that time TO this, he has carried on the war,
never "bating jot of heart or hope" but
confident in the goodness of his cause and
, patiently waiting for the final victory.
The reform and the reformer have met
his progress was like Roman ovation, in
, others he encountered coldness and almost
insult. Scientific men have told him, with
all assurance of wisdom that he infinitely
overrates the evils of the tobacco habit
and other men, equally scientific, have af-
} firmed that he'is right, and that his views
will certainly prevail in the end. Some
. times grave and dignitied public bodies in
vite him to address them, listen respect
, fully, and pass lofty resolutions of thanks;
sometime he fails to obtain even a brief
hearing. Nevertheless, through sunshine
and cloud, he holds on his way, content to
, do what he honestly thinks to be his duty,
I and leaving the result in the hands of One
, stronger than men.
y No doubt there are those who will say
that Mr.. Trask has wasted years of effort
in contending against the inevitable. 1t is
|, easy to smile benevoently, pronounce his
course Eccentric" and refuse the argu-
, ments which he offers. But all candid men
q it seems to me, must admit that there is q
. great evil in the land, and even If it be true
= that he over-estimates the damage done,
this may be tolerated in one man, seeing
D that so great multitude clearly under-es-
r innate it. / honor the sturdy reformer,
, who having made his researches, and
' reached his conclusion, takes his position
a stoutly maintains it against all comers.
/. think, moreover, that among thinking men,
,. there is a current of opinion which begins
o to flow steadily in the direction of this re-
: form, and that among the agencies which
o have produced this result, the addresses
d pamphlets, tracts, and personal appeals o
: the irrepressible workera at Fitchburg, Mas
+ sachusetts, are not the Philadelphia
O Sunday School Times.
II oil nj