The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-10

rnent in advance that John Ii. Armstrong, Esq
otherwise known as "Beemus," no less notice
as a talented and witty writer than for his On
Nous and eonvivial habits would don the rec
ribbon and make a speech, The Court lious
was naturally crowded to its utmost capacit.
nv Il curious and to some extent increduiou
audience but "Beemus" was as good MS hi
word and at the appointed time took the stand
signed the pledge and donncd the ribbon VIII
due formalty, and then delivered the folio"
ing really admirable
ADDRESS:
Hy. President, LaditS and Gentlemen:
On this beautiful Sabbath afternoon, this 4ti
day of Nav A. d. 1879, |, JOHN G. ARMSTRONG
in your presence, do take and have signed tins
solemn pledge that hereafter | will totally ab
stain from the use of all alcoholic liquor AS 4
beverage, so help me God And, "a Il further
evidence Of my sincerity, ana to The END tha'
all the world may know of my sacred promise
and the better to strengthen my resolution, MI
President. will accept from your hands and
wear conspicuously the usual sign Of this so
cicty, a red ribbon; and to keep this promise
true and inviolate | pledge the last and best
efforts of my life.
Ladies and gentlemen, regret exceedingly
that among my meagre attempts toward &c
curing accomplishments the art OF public
speaking is not among the number. | regret
this deficiency more particularly on this occa
sion, when my heart is SO full OF gratitude to
YOU for what you have done and are trying to
do for me / find myself today poor, de
bauched wretch, at the lowest depth OF human
decradatiOn--ip the slough of dcspond OF III
temperance, with the seething, Shiny waters OF
corruption fostering nearly up 1" my very lips,
when you, bcaming with purify, love, refine
ment and charity, thrust your dainty hands in,
10 this noisomc mass Of reching filth and
drunkenness. and drag me ont to place my
feet upon the solid rock OF temperance, To
breathe the pure air Of dcccncy, morality, self
respect-manhood And what reward will be
yours for all this the Good Dispenser Of all
precious things alone can tell.
When Hood, the poet, sang OF the rarity OF
christian charity under the SUM- he never
could have been so blest IA l. IIe could not
have seen assembled rs are here the very best,
kIndcst and most amiabe Indies and intclli-
gent and benevolent gentlemen that any place
can boast, and these people, too, OF every rank
and station in life all met upon "a common
level for common purpose, and thai purpose
charity, pure and simp!c-to raise up the fall
en-, to encourage the tainthcarted, to strength
and brain have nearly been eaten away by the
corrosive power of alcohol, The unsupported
resolution Of the bcsotted wretch, with the ter
riblc appetite for liquor gnawing AT his very
vtals il the weakest possible weapon with
which to oppose dcIirlum tremens But let
the poor. trembling victim feel that true friends
watch over him, that respectable ladies' and
gentlemen care for HIM, pray for him, trust
him, hope for him, albeit he may be in rags
strai gh,way he feels that there must be some
manhood left within his bloatcd and scltdcs-
pissed carcass, and he is strong-hc has power
10 face his old enemy and rout him.
During my recent horrible ordeal CASUALLY
The last in an inebriatc's career several kind
friends from this society came to see me, and
thcy nNrscd me tcndcrly; they watched me in
all my wild delirlum, and with their aid, to-
gctAer with the remnant of Il once iron consti-
tuition, passed safely through my first and
confidently believe my last encounter with the
iiend--the eXecutiOncr who gathers in the vic
tins Of intemperance-King Alcohol When
/ emerged from the valley of the shadow of
death promised my kind aud cvcrloying
mother that ! would abandon the accursed
cup made Il similar promise to my devoted
and almost heart broken wife. One week ago
to-day an amiable lady, kind and truc.hearted,
a member of this society, hearing of my dire
IlSlTtSS, sent utT nUSDdllu w INC WIFI Dtduli-
ful bouquet Flowers are the natural emblem
of truth virtue purity. Water Is Gods own
beverage, made lor man, and also symbol OF
purity placed those flowers in II little pure
clear water, and all the week they gave out
their exquisite perfume and all the week
seemed as pure and firm and fresh and bright
as when they were gathered by the tar fingers
Of the kind lady who thus remembered me in
my a!ilic,ion; and what was more important,
ali the week in the daytime when could look
upon them, and at night when | could inhac
their delicious breath, they reminded me of
my pledge of temperance, and kept 1t fresh
and firm and true
The man who before becoming drrnl;ard
had been of refined and sensitive nature is
often the very hardest to reform He whIlc
drunk mistrusts the philanthropsts motives
and imagines insult and rldCule are meant
where only the kindest intentions prevail He
shuns the company of sober people, and espe-
cialy avoids meeting ladies of his aCquaint-
ancc. He grows diilident mOroSe, shy and re.
firing, never vcnurng 10 address any one UNI
less encouraged by having strung up his
nerves with liquor. When sober he has no
respect for himself, no faith in himself, and
feels as he walks the street that every one sees
him and makes unfriendly comments upon
his trembling form and boated face. lie new
or lctlS az c;ssC until 1T nus CfCpt mo some
corner Of an outofthe-way doggery and quiet
cd his quaking nerves with IL glass or two of
the vile poison-thc bane of his life. Yet such
men can be reformed. 4 kind word sincerely
uttered, a gentle act oi courtesy, any slight
evidence Of true regard, will bring Tears 10 The
bleared and blood-shot eyes, awaken tender
memories arouse the ghost of sctrespect, and
mayhap. if deity followed up, produce Il revo.
luton aud reformation.
King Alcohol is the most exactlug, unjust
and mercicss of all tyrants, For every mo-
menLs dalliance with him he requires lOdTo
of torture lie is shrewd accountant and
makes no errors. Should you have spent five
minutes in his company ana have grown even
only slightly exhicrated the previous evening,
the next morning ne will unstring your nerves,
parch your throat ana deprive you of your ap-
petite. Had you me night before been hila.
rious and gone to bed jubilant, the next day
you will be racked and tortured beyond cndur-
ance Had you made a night of il with the
boys and gone to bed with your boots on a