The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-10-28
Tho Demon Of Drink.
A FEARFUL PICTURE OF THE LATE REV.
~. TALBoT's STRUGGLE AGAINST IT.

The following is an extract from one
of the lectures of J. j. Talbot. who died
lately at Elkhart, Ind, from the effects
of drunken debauch:
But now the struggle is over, L can
survey the field and measure the losses.
I had position high and holy. The de-
mon tore from around me the robes OF
nv sacred office, and sent me forth
churchless and goddess, n very kissing
and byword among men. Afterwards,
I had business large and lucrative, and
nv voice in all large courts was heard
pleading for Justice, mercy and the
right. But the dust gathered on my
open books, and no football crossed the
threshold of the drunkards office. |
but they took wings, and went to feed
the Golfers of the devils which possessed
me. | had n home adorned with all
that wealth and the most exquisite taste
could suggest. The devil crossed its
Threshold and the light faded from its
chambers; the fire went out on the holt
est of affairs. and, leading me through
its portals, despair walked forth with
her. and sorrow and anguish fingered
within | had children, beautiful, to
me at least, as dream of morning; and
they had so entwincd themselves around
their fathers heart that no matter where
it might wander, ever it came back to
them on the bright wings of fathers
undying love. His destroyer took their
hands in his. and led them away. | had
u wife whose charms of mind and per-
son were such that to see her was to re-
member, and to know her was to love.
For thirteen years we walked the
rugged road of life together, rejoicing
in its sunshine, and sorrowing in its
shade. This Internal monster could not
spare me even this. | had mother
who, for long. long years had not left
her chair, Il victim of suffering and dis
ease: and her choicest delight was in
reflection that the lesson which she had
taught ut her knee had taken root in the
heart of her Youngest born. and that he
was useful to his fellows. and an honor
to her who bore him. But the thunder
bolt reached even there, and there it did
it's most cruel work. Other days may
cure all but this. All. me; never Il
word OF rcproach from her lips; only
tender caress; only II shadow of n great
and unspoken grief gathering over the
dear old face; only trembling hand
laid more lovingly on my head; only Il
closer clinging to the cross: only Il pit
cols appeal to Heaven if her cup at last
were not full. And, while her boy raved
in his wild delirium two thousand miles
away, the plying angels pushed the
golden gates aiar, and the mother of the
drunkard entered into rest
And thus | stand, Il clergyman with
out II cure; Il barrister without brief or
business; Il father without child; II
husband without Il wife; son without
a parent Il man with scarcely friend !;
II soul without hope-all swallowed up
in the m;rlstrom of drink.
1IGHrNiSG MARKs.-It has been well
observed that there are many facts OK
listing in Nature. of which the true OK
PLANTATION only awaits the progress of
discovery; and i'll due time it falls into
the hands of the appointed reaper. Yet
the desire of at once explaining every
thing. seems. with many people, to
amount to kind of insanity, and when
they cannot explain fact. they relieve
themselves by denying its existence.
Now there are several wcli-attested
CuScS VI utttu ny llSutHlHS, Ill WHICH
certain marks are reported to have been
seen on the bodies of the victims In
one case, n sailor was struck down III his
cot, near the mast of the vessel and on
his left breast was found II wellformed
impression of the number 4" A (which
was attached in metal letters to the
mast. On another occasion II Young
man was struck by lightning, and on
his neck was found the image of Il horse
shoe, which was fixed on II wall little
way off. In Il third case, a sailor, sit
ting ut the foot of the mizzen-mast, was
killed by flash of lightning, and his
back exhibited the impression of Il horse
shoe nailed to the mast. 1t was not I'M
til many years after the occurrence Of
the most recent cases, that Il rational
explanation of the facts was supplied
by the experience of II celebrated cleo
trician. While experimenting with II
Holtz electrical machine, he discovered
that ii drop or two of water was
sprinklcd on the brass ball of mega
tive pole, spots exactly corresponding,
and similar dimness, appeared on the
positive pole, showing that lines of force
extended from one pole to the other.
through the intervening air To eX-
plain the cases ust mentioned, there
fore, it is onl y necessary to assume that
the fatal discharge of electricity from
the horseshoe, or the metal numbers,
was IL negative" one; and that the
bodies struck by it were positively .
electrified.