The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-16
An Inebriate's Device.

The Boston Commercial Bulletin tells the
following story of young man who WIS
taken to home for inebriates for treatment:
He is bad case" said the gentleman who
handed him over to Mr.. Coles. land yet he
has some good IN him. He is one of the
most generous of men, in drink or out of it,
but he is never happy except when In drink;
yet when i get him in good society, and
occupy his mind with pure things, he seems
to forget that there is such thing as liquor
in the world. Get him out OF his present
condition and give him to me clothed in his
right mind, and / think can manage to
save him. He's tricky, SO advise you for
my sake and for his sake to watch him."
Leave him to me- said Mr.. Coles.
In three days Mr.. Coles had brought the
young man through all the dangers of
delirium tremens and had placed him, as it
were, on bis feet The danger was passed.
All that was required was an effort on the
young mans part, and the cure was COM
plete.
"How do you feel?' said Mr.. Coles when
his patient had recovered his senses.
Every we'll inded, only would like one
last drink, you know, before part company
with 1t forever"
"You shall have it, was the reply, and
five minutes later the young man was re-
called with a big drink of the bromide of
porassia.
Much obliged to you. Mr.. Coles" said the
patient. Pm all right now. God bless
you for your kindness"
Mr.. Coles gathered up the young mans
clothes in his arms, including his hat and
shoes and carried them down stairs.
There, my boy" said Mr.. Coles to him
SELF "wnen you want to get out of this
| establishment you've got to summon me,
and perfectly satisfied that the young man
could not get out without his assistance. Mr..
Coles applied his thoughts to other subjects.
The patient was determined to procure
I sfo ~ fUo aforiae
from the street. but there was a pipe that
ran from the roof to the ground, a water
spout.
81 can descend by that, said he"
He looked around for his clothes-they
were gone. He found nothing but pair o
old slippers The money he had In hi
pockets when he was brought to the asylum
was in the bureau-drawer of his room. Mr.
Coles had not thought to take that away
The young man tore the sheets of his be-
into strips and wound the strips around hi
legs, making pair of pantaloons; then b
took comforter from his bed, cut holes in /
for his arms and thus made tolerably MIC
dressing-gown. With the dressing
gown made from the comforter, the pants
looms made from the strips of his sheets, an
the pair of slippers, he thought himself vel
dressed. Only one thing was wanting,
hat. Going into the bath. room he found
large sponge He cut slit IN this with hi
razor, and putting his head into the slit b
had q fur hat at once. Then raising hi
window he stepped outside and slid dow
} the water-spout, with the money he had i
} his possession when he came into the insti
tuition in the crown of his sponge hat.
Half an hour later Mr.. Coles went q
| stairs to converse with his patient, but, b
hold, the bird was fiownl
SWELL" said Mr.. Coles, che must hay
gone out naked, and OF course would De IN
mediately arrested. 1 will find him at tn
| police station" :.
But Mr. Coles, in passing barroom on
, way to the station heard noise OF gre
, hilarity, and, thinking that he recognize
the voice of his patient, dropped in. IN
, he was with his dressing,gown, sponge
|, and his skin-tight pantanloons, the center
: an admiring circle, drinking whisky punch ca
!: and rattling off Jokes at she rate OF ~
minute.
! .Tske a drink, old fellow" said II
} ineoriate, with drunken familiarity; >,
8 The offer was declined, and the gr
E tssouely-clothed patient was induced to r
D turn to the home.