The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-03-22
from the Christian Union.l
REAL LIFE.
A Temperance Tale.
BY TEE AUTHOR or "HELKN's BABIEs.'
CHAPTER /.

| uVtlD Ot DdttOdl Oil y cTtAiu Suu1ulcI
evening twenty years ago. 1t was not
Sunday evening, for during an acci-
dental lull there was heard, afar of
Yet distinctly, the unsanctified notes
;. Of the mail-carrier's horn. And yet
the doors Of the village stores, which
usually stood invitingly open until
far into the night, were now tightly
closed, while the patrons Of the several
drinking shops Of Barton congregated
quietly within the walls of their re-
spective sources of inspiration, instead
of forming, as was their usual wont,
lively groups on the sidewalk.
The truth was, Barton was about to
indulge in monster temperance meet
ing. The "S0ns Of Temperance ~
well as the Daughters and cadets"
thereof, the "Washingtonians." the
Total Abstinence Society,"" and all
various religious bodies in the village
had Joined their forces for grand
demonstration against King Alcohol.
The meeting had been appropriately
announced, for several successive Sun
days, from each pulpit in Barton the
two school teachers Of Barton had re-
peatedly informed their pupils of the
time and object Of the meeting; the
| "Barton Register" had devoted two
leaders and at least dozen items TO
the subject; and poster, in the largest
type and reddest ink which the Reg
ister'' office could supply, confronted
one at every fork and crossing of roads
leading to and from Barton, and in
formed one that Major Ben Bailey,
the well-known champion of the tenn
perance cause, would address the meet
ing tipt the Crystal Spring Gloe
Club would sing a number ofstirring
| songs, and that the Barton Brass Band
had also been secured for the evening.
The only inducement which might
have been lacking was found at the
foot of the poster in the two words
"Admittance Free"
No wonder the villagers crowded to
the Methodist Church, the most COM
modious gathering place in the town.
Long before the bells had ceased clang-
ing the church was 40 full that chill
dren occupying full seats were accom-
modatingly taken on the laps of their
parents, larger children were lifted to
the window-sills, deaf people were re-
moved froM the pews 70 the alta steps,
and chairs were brought from the
various residsn ces and placeti IN the
aisles. Outside the church crowds
stood about near the windows, while
more prudent persons made seats of
logs from the woodpile which the
country members Of the congregation
A sudden hush of the whispering
multitude ushered in the clergy Of
Barton, and, for once, the four rev.
erend gentlemen really seemed de-
sirous OF uniting against q common
enemy instead Of indulging in their
customary quadrangular duel. Then,
amid a general clapping of hands, the |
members Of the Crystal Spring Glee
Club fled in and took reserved seats |
at the right Of the altar while the Bar
ton Brass Band, announced by gen
eral shrek of .'Oh." from all the chill
dren present, seated themselves Oh a
raised platform ON the left.
squire Tomple, the richest and fat
s.,f oh fa.l ..ln
man and accepted with a benignant
smile. Then the Reverend frimotheus
Brown, the oldest pastor in the village,
prayed earnestly that intemperance
might cease to reign. Squire Tomple
then adjusted his spsctacles and called
on the band for some instrumental
music which was promptly given and
loudly apPlauded, after which the
Crystal Spring Glee Club sang song
with rousing chorus. Then there
was = touching dialogue between a
pretended drunkar,l and his mother,
in which the graceless youth was
brought to a knowledge of the error of
his ways and moved to make very
full and grammatical confession. Then
the band played another air, and the
Glee Club sang Don't you so, rom-
N.Y." and there was a tableau entitled
1.-THE First Glass and another of
1.-The Drupkard's Home,' after which
the band PLAYED still another air.
Then member of the Executive Com
mittse stepped Oh tiptOe up to the
chairman and whispered to him, and
the chairman assumed An air Of digni-
fed surprise, edged expectantly to one
side Of his chair, and finally arose sud
denly rs another member of the Ex-
ecutive Committee entered the rear
door arm-ia-arm with the great Major
Ben Bailey himself.
The committeeman introduced the
major to the chairman, who in turn
made the major acquainted with the
reverend clergy; the audience in
Idulged In q number Of critical and
lapproving glances and whispers, and
then the chair announced that the
speaker Of the evening would now in
lstruct and entertain those there pres
lent. The speaker of the evening
cleared his throat, took swallow of
water, threw his head back, thrust one
hand beneath his coat tails, and
opened his discourse.
He was certainly very able speak
er. He explained in Q few words the
nature Of alcohol and what were its
unvarying effects upon the human
system; proved, to the satisfaction and
horror Of the audience, from reports
of analyses and from liquor-dealers'
handbooks that most liquors were
: adulteratsd, and with impure and
! dangerous mixtures; explained how
, the use Of beer and light wines created
q ta .te for stronger liques; showed
the fallacy Of the idea that liquor was
in any sense nutritious; told NUM-
her Of amusing stories about men Wit
had been drunk; displayed figures
showing how many pounds Of breae
and meat might be bought with tn
!. money spent In the United States TO