St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
An Hour in the Horse-Car.
BY MRS. LUCY E. SANFORD.


Two ladies were talking, and seemed
not to mind that l was opposite them.
One, dressed elegantly but quietly, was
perfectly lady, and tears were in her
eyes and voice as she said:
"They tell me ought not to feel it
so keenly ought not to let it wear up
on me so but cannot help it. He is
a perfect wreck, and he aods all 1 could
ask or wish"
"And a man of such fine talent"
Eyes, and has been so honOred and
now to see him so degraded. He feels
it all, and is as mortified as his friends
are.n
"Why don't he try to reform ?"
"He has tried again and again, but it
never lasts. And Doctor - has done
all he can to reform him."
"Wasn't it the doctors fault 7"
"The doctors mistake; entirely so !;
ne never drank until it was prescribed
him.
After hearing some little more, rose
and went to her, and said:
"PaTdon me, but l could not help
hearing you. l had dear friend, who
was wild in college, but soon after he
left he joined a temperance club, and
never drank again until over forty years
old. Then, recovering from a severe
sickness, brandy was prescribed for
him. He commenced drinking and never
left off, but at tifty-One died of delirium
tremens. Hearing you say your friend
fell from physicians prescription, l
wish to hear just as much more as you
are willing to tell me-"
''He was lawyer in this city, and if
| were to give you his name you would
know it well He commenced as partner
of -. When the war broke out he
left his large practice and went to the
field. There he contracted muscular
rheumatism. He came home and had
the best physicians of the city, but for
two years was great sufferer, much of
the time confined to his bed. Then DR..
- prescribed whisky, telling him he
would soon be well. In three months
he was out on crutches, and in six with
out them. But he would continue the
medicine until stronger, and then re-
fused to stop it. So the doctor saved
him and ruined him. Body and brain
are wrecked, and he would willingly
take back the disease, if he could get
Tlu vi TIE dppetlte.
GLOW distressing"
"MOre, great deal, than you can
imagine"
81 understood you to say he never
drank before"
"Neuer! And he was not only very
temperate, but honorable, generous,
and kind, a man of fine principles and
esteemed by everybody, and one who
would have left an hOnOred name, if he
had died ten years ago. And he feels
it bitterly"
81 am growing to feel that physicians
should be very careful to whom they
prescribe liquor"
''They are getting to be. A lady
friend of mine seemed weak and ailing,
and asked her physician if little port
wine would not give her strength, and
he replied:
ain my early practice should have
ordered it. But when / look around
and see the ladies l have made drunk
ards, ! am appalled, and now l never
order liquor in any form. 1t is often a
good thing, sometimes very good, but
dare not take the risk of what may fol-
low.w
"Will you permit me to use this ?"
asked.
eff it will do one person good, shall
be very glad. Only omit names"
As the truth, unadorned, is the great
est power earth can know, | have not
changed one sentence, do not know
that l have one word, in the above
conversation.