Smyrna times., 1880-06-16
A Horrible Dream.

Wilmington for several years, and died
there in ! 80 lie was born in Milford,
and after receiving a collegiate education,
devoted himself to literary pursuits. lie
resided in his native town for many years
but in 1855 removed to Baltimore city and
remained there for short time. lie then
removed to Wilmington and is still rcmem-
brrcd by many Of the older residents Of |
that city. lie was peculiarly endowed with |
rare intellectual attainments, and his com |
positions, embracing prose and poetry pos |
sesscd the living embodiments Of pathos |
and icrvor. Though richly endowed by |
nature with Il vivid inauguration and the |
gift Of song, he was addicted to the wine |
cup, and on this rock wrecked every hope
OF earthly ambition. 1t was while in ono
Of his bachannallan revels, the brain fired
by fumes Of the Intoxicating cup that he
dreamed dream in which was pictured
his past life and future end
lie had been for weeks under the iniiu-
cnce Of inebriaton and had retired to his
couch for slumbcr and repoae. In this
condition be fell asleep and dreamed hc
entered a rail road station, took passage on
a departing train and soon found himself
travelling at lightning speed, he knew not
whittier. At every way station youth and
beauty, checks roScatc with health, young
crepid men of grey hairs and bowed down
with age, eagerly sought to obtain passage.
Mirth, hilarity and song employed the
moments as the train moved with the We.
locty Of the wind. The sensation was de-
lightful, the thrOng gay and happy. Sud
denly the scene changed to one Of dread
and astonishmcnt. lie looked and behold
the cars in which they are seated and
which are moving at lightning speed arc
glass the rails are glass also. He looked
out beside the railway the road is strc~n
with glass collins and the upturned faces Of
the pallid dead, cold and grim in death,
meet his Mortified vision. Appalled, and
terrified at the aWiu. sight lie would
have retrcated from the scene presented.
But he is held to the spot if bound by
the strongest trtters. Festvity and song
20 on and amid the whirl and gayety OF
; the scene the solemn faces OF the dead
atrewn all along the track are forgotten.
But only for a moment. \ closer scrutiny
revealed here and there IN the cold and
> limpid countenancc Of the dead, a IA
milar face, the companion Of his youth,
:, and further Oh am associate OF maturel
l years. Further and further, faster and
faster they travel with celebrated speed
= until he tpholds now the friends Of lii
! youth and manhood lie strcwn thick like
4 Autumn leaves all about him.
L Overcome with painful emotions, Iii,
: heart stirred with grief he turned abou
l. him to seek for information as to tho
Il solemn scenes which surrounded him. liz
, sou .ht the conductor Of the train and de
Il manded to know the meaning Of th
a strange sights and this hlayity and mirth
Is amid the solemn death scenes on this grea
thoroughtare over which they were SO raj
: idly travelling.
+ "Why, sir remarked the conductor, oar
/ YOU ignorant Of these scenes and know no
u whittier YOU are bound?' This, sir, is III
Il railroad Of Lite. This train on which yO
y are travelling is known as that OF Dissipg
- ton. You entered at the station Of Modcl
- - alton. We have passed the stations {
VI Mid Drinks, drunkenness, Disgrace and Io'
ID erty and our place of destination is that {
'T[ Destruction. These millions of upthne
faces Of the dead are yotarles of Bacchalr
le sacrificed at the shrine of this blind 60
u and are victims Of their own slayish app
, ttcs. This transparent rail road which yo
- see resembling glass, represents human Iii
" as pictured in the inauguration OF I'll
= incbriate Strong drink infatuates, Civ,
>" to life Il false colorng, lures on to scenes
"s festvity and falsely deludes and was i
re victim to destruction. There is but OF
/
hu Journey and that is Reform. But few ste
ne here, and, of the number that do, a va
10 majority again Join the throng for Destru
'F ton.
Here the Bard awoke and being horrif'
ieI by the scenes presented in his dream, l
Il" solved as thousands of others had dol
ere before him, to abandon his cups and lead
uy sober life. But alas for human frailt
e"i Again and again were these resolves ma
-. to be rs often broken, until at last so we'
Gc' had become resistance to overcome t
oe' tempter that he fell a victim to the fell {
~ stroyer.
Ter How many fathers and young men 4
an, there in this country to-day, who boast
'nGi their strength of manhood their power
mo master strong drink, have already enter
net the station of Moderate Drinking: ha
p";; embarked on this railroad of glass and {
'hu being carried with lightning speed down
ere destruction ?-1mcrtcan j'Hon.