The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-03
RUINED M RHIsKEY.
An Accurate Report Of . Professional Round
er's Pitiful story.

He walked into the offlce tall, thin and
shabby his trousers were baaRy and ragged I;
his short coat was buttoned no to his chin to
hide his lack of linen. An old straw hat was
pulled over his bleared eyes he held a crumpied
paper In one dirty hand, the other was buried In
the pocket OF his dirty coat. "'Scuse me for
inteuuptn0 you" be said, and bis speech was
thick and rummy. "'Souse me for inteTruptiDg
you. shan't stay but a moments I'm In want,
air. Can you GIN me something 2"
The reporter to whom tho stranger had sd-
dressed himself shook his head.
"Allus like to talk to literary genrmen," he
continued. seating himself on the edge OF the
table, and not paying the slightest attention TO
the refusal. Literary een'lmen are always so
liberal In their views, so broad minded. Allus
like to proach q Rsn'lman. West Point officers
an that sort. Fine lot OF fellers. Very high
minded, pucky, too; no Mandy pambyism bout
EN-. Cant you help me, only want few cents
Another shake OF the head. " whiskey brought
me down" he continued, slding o the table
showing hieh forehead and well SNAPPED head,
thinly covered with prematurely gray halr'
used to be one Of the hest dressed men In New
York. You smile. don't wonder. Don't look
much like II now. Whisky brought me down.
went into the army ai rlgnt tnat wnete ,I 9Tt
ing to een'lman. Can't you give me Something
to eat 2"
"Do you think this taste for whiskey IL dis
ease2 Seems though II was. Dipsomania th9y
cali IL. / believe II Ia n disease. Was reading m
the London Lancet, the other day. an article 10y
some President Of some N. ID. Society can't
remember his name-and he said twas dis
ease. Do YOU think SOP do. 'Scuse me n /
seem eeotistical, but speak OF myself to illus
trate the point" good deal OF the thickness
OF speech was gone. and the blcared eyes looked
more Intelligent. "My grandfather lived near
Loeb Lomond. Scotland-a IN an Of means, but
he loved whiskey so that they mad to take hts
To- Of w a. M "
when drunk. My father was a West India mer-
chant, ana lived In jamaica: Had his servants,
Fine looking man, and keen eye-not like mine ;
nrm lip and chin-not like mine. My nose ro-
gentlemen, always dressed In close fitting black
surtout and bun vest; aud | can remember
seeing him stagser up the streets drunk. There
were nine children OF us-one girl and eight
boys. The girl was lucky In being girl. and
she didn't get to drinking. Two Of the children
died when little things, and they were lucky
for they didn't die drunkards. but every other
when drunk and fractured his skull another is
In Australia, n druukard, and here | am, beg
cling. Yes, sir. begging; sleeping In parks /;
don't know where the next meal will come
from h.d WIZ, Why dept quit whskey' Would If
Why dent you stop, any wayiS" ,.-, -,
couldn't do it. hut it's awful, sir, damning."
Somehow silver quarter found Its way to the
centre al ,he t,oe rne sesdy man Looked At
Yes sir used to he a respectable man. I
didn't have a classical education, but had u
good social education at home. Now am like
Cain, vagahond anS wanderer Every mans
hand Is against me. But am not quite a muir
deret yet Neither did | ever steal. ! verify
believe, sir, that you might leave Ave
dollar bill on the table there end l
wouldn't steal Il; but II you left
bottle Of brandy I'd take that mighty quick.
" used TO he at Fortress Monroe under Gen.
Miles. | was the chief CLERK there when Jen.
Davis was prisoner. and every day II W $ my
duty to write a letter ABOUT his health. j have
the honor TO repor, that the prisoner, Jefferson
Davis, passed comfortable night or some
such bosn as that. | want TO get back In the
army. l want 10 make one more trial. Not
much use, though, i fear"
He rose, picked up the quarter carelessly. and
slipped 1t into his pocket. I" W ELL sir. as DR..
johnson said when he gave the poor woman
smiling, you've given me solace from my sor-
rows for a few hours You've read boswells
Life OF Johnson MOI Why. my dear sir, MS
the best biography ever written. Read what
Macauliy says about It 10 his paper. then read
the lie itsen. why, sir I've earned this money
n eau induce you to read Boswells Life Of
Johnson Good day. sir. 90 to get the solaoe
for my sorrows. Good day"
He touched his battered hat jauntilv. waved
his dirty hand, squared bis shoulder, and walk
ed oriskly 10 the nearest gin mill.