The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-11
WOMANS' TEMPERANCE COL.
UMN
Treating.

Perhaps DO one practice conduces so
much to the real evils of intemperancc ns
treating asking your friend to take
drink. That friend in great many in.
stances had "sworn off " in his own Ian.
guage, and would never have tasted again
but for that invitation to drink, ard
what fearful consequences sometimes fol.
low. Edgar Allan Poe, Of whom so much
has been said, who in real, poetic genius
had no living equal, whose tales are as
charming as those OF the Oldest and best
writers, but for that fatal offer to I" take
drink" might have been alive to-day,
and his fame as wide as that of Sir Wal
ter Scott, and his songs as numerous and
sweet, and his tales as romantic and de.
lightful. His life had been full of dis.
appointment, one after another of his
schemes had proven fruitless, his ambition
had proven to be greater than his power
Of accomplishment, and his memory was
full Of blasted hopes; he had become sour
ed, and melancholy claimed him as her
own" But now there was change
brighter hopes were to be realized, and on
the sky of his future not cloud was
visible. An accomplished southern lady
had agreed to be bis BRIDE he was to be
lifted above the auxieties of want, could
pursue his literary work according to
his long cherished dreams. A little bus.
iness required his presence in New York
for few days and then the marriage, and
the commencement of the happy future
But in passing through Baltimore on his
way to New York he met some old friends
and told them ofhis new hopes. The hap
piness of his heart shone in his eyes and
gave music to his accent His friends
asked him to drink he refused he said
he had not drank for months, he was 60.
ing to abandon the habit and practice
out they insisted on this occasion be must
drink they would not excuse him, they
pulled him to the bar, they filled the COB.
let, and he-drank.
That was the last of Edgar A. Poe.
The!frst glass was not enough. That treat
had lighted all the fires Of his old pas.
sion, and they blazed with the brightness
of forked lightning The treat went on
until the brain of Edgar A. Poe was
turned, he wandered away from his
friends, out into the streets and into the
darkness, his brain as wild as the storm
raging around him. The next morning
the police found him unconscious, nearly
dead from exposure, and raving maniac.
They took him to the hospital and nursed
him until he died. friend treated him
in Baltimore, and the next day strangers
buried him. A terrible lesson to rcmem.
ber when you ask friend to drink
This is case of which the world has
read, the victim was so conspicuous that
when he fell they looked and wondered.
But there are thousands in humble life
struggling against the terrible thirst, re-
sisting for months or even years, till
some accursed friend offers the cup. A
case of this kind came under my own
observation in A. A young Euglishman
not more than thirty years Of age, a
county clerk, supervisor land owner,
business man of superior ability, had
been Incorporate, and Tor him to drink
was to get drunk. He had broken the
chain at last, and for two and one half
years had not tasted liquor. During
this time he had prospered moro than
most men. lie owned houses and lands,
bonds, mortgages and money. His friends
were proud Of him and said, " He has re-
formed A woman had said to him,
Abstain one year more and l will trust
you; then We will we'd The year had
nearly passed and Rob (they called him
,"Rob') had still kept his pledge. lie
still said 81 will not taste again and
his hopes grew brighter and higher. But
he was called to Detroit on business, to
remain day or two. While there he
met thee or four Engl:Shmen, friends Of
his boyhood, They had not met for years
They asked Rob to drink. He refused and
told his story, but.they laughed and said,
I'VE drink for merry England" He
was proud of "Old England" and he
yielded. Not returning home to A. his
friends sought him out and found him
drunk, beastly drunk. He had squan.
dered sixteen hundred dollars, was dirty
and stupid. Liquor changed him from a
gentleman to a beast He was taken
home, but did not reform or try to. His
will was gone, and all was gone. The
court took away his commission as clerk,
he sold his lands for money, he spent his
money for rum. Soon all was gone and
he was beggar. l knew him three
years thereafter, but never saw him sober
-s-;- he --~s ass,it~ta ef avsry thing.
When warm enough he slept out of doors;
when too cold he crept into barns and
} sheds or any friendly cover that might
} protect his filthy body. | have not
f, heard from him since, but if through
some unexpected Providence he has re-
covered, will not his friends pause be.
. fore they ask him to drink ? Does the
. honor Of merry England or Old England
require that our friendship need to be
renewed BY such sacrifice? With such
men the first drink is all; it permeates ev-
cry nerve, it crazes the brain, destroys
the will. Poe died in hight Rob
could live for years Poe's was the hap
nier LOT Nevpr ask friend IN drink