Ellsworth American., 1876-11-30
j. Talbst-A Sad Career

J. J. Talbot OF Indianapolis. died at south
Bend. Ind. on the "a uit., aged 81. In early
lfe he studied for the ministry aud became \
Methodist clergyman. Subsequently. amer hi
marriage ri Louisville. he Joined the Episcopal
Church and had charge of a wealthy pastoTate.
and during the war acted a. chaplain for a Ken
lucky regiment. lie left the ministry and b.
came i lawyer. lie wa Al one time = member
OF 'ongress from Kentucky. He finally Welded
% an inherited sppeite for strong drink. and
fell TO a very low level. but wa. reclaimed. and
became very effective advocate Of temper
ancr. lie was the head 81 the Order OF Good
Templar. in Indiana.
Hon. schuyler ColfAN. in a recent letter re-
fcrring 10 his death, says oi Mr. Talbot; He
ha, made hundreds Of eloquent and touching
appeals for temperance all over the State with
in the past two years. but told me that the ap-
petite sometimes become so Insatiate to a.
most defy control. though he PRAYED on Bonded
knee for strength To resist il. ] remember the
terrible picture Of hi own experience copied
in the enclosed article. He delivered il here.
TO Il crowded audience, hundreds OF whom. like
myself were in tears. and he uttered II in de-
spending tones that seemed almost like the
wall OF the lost. aud A. il be felt hi. Impending
doom was inevitable"
We quote the following extract referred to by
Mr.. COlfax;
But now that the struggle i over i can sur
Vev the field and measure the losses. ! had
position high and holy. Thi, demon tore from
around me the robes Of my sacred Office. and
sent me forth churchless and goddess. a very
kissing and by-word among men. AfierwaTd
1 had business large and lucrative, and my
voice in all large courts was heard pleading for
justice, mercy and the right. But the du,t
gathered on my unopened books. and no foot
fail crossed the threshold Of the drunkarr- Of
nee. had moneys ample for all necessities,
but they took wings and went TO feed the Golfers
ui the devils which possessed me. had home
adorned with all that wealth aud the most cX-
/ quIsite taste could suggest. This devil crossed
it. threshold and the light faded from its ch am
bers the fire went out on the hOliest Of aliars
and, leading me through its portals. despair
walked forth with her, and sorrow aud anguish
fingered within. bad children. beautiful. TO
me at least, ss dream OF the morning, and
( Ines had so entwined themselves around their
Z fathers heart that, no matter where IL might
d wander, ever il came back TO them ON the
bright wings OF father'- undying love. This
destroyer took their hands in hi. and led them
! HwSy. had wife whose charms Of mind
> and person were such that TO see her wa TO re-
member. and 10 know her was TO love.
i For thirteen wears We walked the rugged
! path Of life together. rejoicing in il sunshine
and >orrOwing in It's shade. he internal mon
4 >ter couldn't spare me even this. had "A moth
I er who for long years had not left her chair, a
victim Of suffering and disease and her choicest
delight was in reflection that the les ons sh,
I had taught at her knee had tsken root in the
htart OF bef youngest born, ana that ne wa
useful 10 his fellows. and an honor TO her who
bore him. But tn" thunderbolt reached even
there, and there it did it, most cruel work. All
me; never word Of reproach from her lips
only tender caress; only shadow Of greal
unspOken grief gathering over the dear oll
fa,e; only trembling hand laid more lovingly
on my lead only a closer clinging TO the cross
only a more piteous appeal TO Heaven if bel
cup al last were not full. And while her boy
raved in his wild delirum two thousand mile
away, the pitying angels pressed the gates ajar
aud the mother Of the drunkard entered into
rest.
And thus stand: clergyman without
cure barrister without brief or business;
father without child; a husband without
wife; q sou without sparent; a man with
scarcely friend; q soul without hope-al
swallowed up in the maelstrom Of drink