The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-06-21

Our God is Lord of all
-Reu z. a Wads,ooth in Advance
Senator" Bsb HaAra's Conversion.
Among the recent events that have
occurred in the theatrical world, none
has excited such widespread surprise
or so general an interest as the CONVEX
sion to Christianity and total abstinence
of the famous negro minstrel, "Senator
Bob Hart" or, as he ia better known in
private life, James M. Sutherland. A
visit to his unpretentious home on
Varick street found that well known
stump speaker in the bosom of his family,
which consists of his wife, one child-a
bright aced, han dsome boy of six, the
image of his father--and sister-in.Iaw.
ESQ you want to know all about my
recent conversion to Christianity and
total abstinence ?" began Mr.. Suther-
land, leaning back in his coy arm
chair. Well, it a tale easily and
simply told. 1t was not the influence
of the stage itself that induced me
to leave it, but it was it's too social
surroundings. j found that, do what
1 might-and my inward strugg les
before took leave of it were many AMI
frequent could not resist the tempt
alton to indulge to excess in intoxicat-
ing liquors, unless / cut myself adrift
from my old associates. And, although
I entertained feelings of The highest
regard and friendship for my late fellow.
professionals, and shall always have a
kindly hand-shake and good word for
all of them, found that it was impossi-
BILE to continue in the minstrel profes.
sion and lead better life. Many time
1 have gone down ON my knees, while in
maudlin state of intoxication, and
prayed fervently to God to rescue me
from the unhappy end to which i was
rapidly drifting--a 1runkard's death;
but there was apparently no response to
my earnest appeals, because, 1 suppose,
/ did not ask for heavenly assistance as
q man should, with clear brain and
pure heart. / never asked Gods help
after getting over spree, because my
nervous system would be for the time
complete wreck, and would be incapa-
BILE of appealing to my Creator for
strength to resist. And then, after
making an earnest resolve to remain
away from temptation, and depend up
on my own will to keep me from drink,
ing, would meet 9 few friends, and go
of on the same old round. Although Z
never was in 9 condition of beastly ins
toxication before an audience-for still
retained sufficient self-respect to never
appear in that conditiou-yet 4 was
compelled, through the stage-manager,
to utter SO many downright .falsehoods
by way Of excusing my absence that
every one of my brother actors and the
audience knew just as well as ! did that
was off on q drunk.
I" at my last engagement on the min
strel stage-with the San Francisco
minstrels-Charles Backus, Billy Birch,
Dave Wambold and Others, reasoned,
expostulated and implored me time and
again to quit drinking, but their friendly
appeals were useless. 4 grew 90 case
hardened that it seemed impossible for
me t leave drinking.
4" i WIS born" continued Mr.. Suther
land, Sin Orange county New York,
forty-four years ago, and when i arrived
at the age of twenty-one went on the
stage, and remained there, travelling all
over the south, for twenty-three years.
AT an early period Of life ] became ad-
dicted to tho use OF hquors, and the
appetite grew and became 30 strong
finally that it swallowed up every dollar
of my salary-and 4 usually received
from 500 to $3.50 per week three squase
blocks of land near the city OF Chicago,
a homestead la New jersey, and other
real estate. Every penny 4 earned went
10 satisfy my appetite for liquor, and Dy