The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-20
THE OQuENCE OF AN INTEMPERATE
ACTOR


can old fellow who gave his name rs
Chas. II. Slosson was called upin Judge
Wright's court on the charge OF
drunkenness. He was a remarkable
seedy-looking specimen, arrayed IN
dirty check-shirt and pair OF loose
baggy trousers, which were prevented
from falling off by leather strap
knotted about the waist. lie was
shivering and trembling from the
effects of a we'll sustained debaunch,
and hardly had physical strength
enough to stand upright. When the
Judge asked him if he had anything
to say. he rose up and demanded
Jury. which was granted. and when
his turn came he advanced with a
shutting tread, and bending his eyes
on his 'speers" he began:
Gentlemen of the jury. stand
here to-day not as a defender OF my
own personal debasement than an
example of human depravity, which,
like a beacon light, should warn you
from the rocks of intemperance. A
man in my condition is like rude
sign post | once saw III tennessee,
which pointed up road over when
the green grass was beginning to wave.
On the sign was the inscription'Small-
pox.' and the index finger of hand
pointing westward. If any Of you
travelling along the highway saw such
a sign as that you would pause on the
brink Of deadly danger and turn back
ward. Sensation. In me you behold
such sign: and if by looking upou me
any one of you can be turned back
from destruction, shall think that
God in his infinite mercy has allowed
me to fill sphere of usefulness which
shall enable me to bear with fOrtltude
the imputation constantly hurled upon
me bv nv own conscience-that l
have lived in vain.
Gentlemen of the jury, as you
peruse the pages of the old poets you
will see how they have deitied the
wine-cup. They have wreathed 1T
with the flowers of fancy, surrounded
it with the halo of song, and peopled
it's bloody depths with the creatures
of their own bright imaglnatlons,
until one might almost believe it to be
the well-spring of human happiness:
when bitter experience tell us III very
different language that it is the
fountain-head of misery. the abode OF
the demon that destroys our very
lives Here one of the jurors wiped
away a tear with his coat-sleeve.
There is something that comes upin
the fumes of Il cup that fools call IN
SEPARATION. but it isa cunning reptile,
which, crawling up from the dregs of
the grape, enters the window OF the
brain. and steals away. like thief In
the night. with our reason fast In It's
embrace Here the speaker poured
out and took drink of water. There
is hand in the wine-cup which. at any
moment. may put its grip upon your
threats and strangle you as Il strong
man might y babe. Here several OF
the jury pulled down their vests.
Gentlemen of the jury, have not
long to stay: Two mighty miners are
delving on this lode-Time and De 18th.
They are daily at their post. working
side-by side as one eternal shift,
clearing away the rubbish of waste
rock and pushing along the ledge
Before long | will be gathered in the
vast laboratory of death piece OF
useless property, to be east into the
waste pumps of hell.
Here the old fellow pulled from
his pocket a red handkerchief, anc
commenced to Sob The effect was
striking. The old miners and the
jury moved by his forcible simile
|, broke forth into simultaneos sobs. il
which the Court spectators and pros
ecuting attorney joined. The Chroni
Gle reporter was SO moved that he was
J obliged TO 90 and brace up with ;
J stiff cocktail. The jury were obliged
: I to find him guilty, but recommended
him TO the mercy of the Court. II,
/ was accordingly fined IS. which TIN
Jury paid on the spot. and the old maj
Slid out of the door with the remark
= Il knew Id ketch 'em. Blast my but
, tons didn't / work up the briny
t though. didn't II A subsequen
= Investigation led to the discover
t that the bum was an ex-actor iron
| Frisco, who was Just giving the lur.
t a touch of his profession.