Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-06
philadelphia Times.)
4 TEMPERANCE LECTURE.
NOT IN THE USUAL vES.-THoUGHTs
OF MAN CT THE WORLD.

/
Howard in the Philadelphia Times,
says: Men are not prone to heed lessons,
are they: If we were, there wouldn't
be so many fellows trying to drink them.
selves into eternity. l found in the
death notices day before yesterday the
names OF three men, each of whom was
dear to me. One of them used to live
in Boston, then in Washington, Of late
in New York. He died in lunatic
asylum.
Why.
Rum.
By rum l mean strong drink. We
use rum as generic term for ell liquors.
This friend was Al when he died. He
was an inventor, pusher, driving, en-
ergetic man Of business, and he had two
inventions, each Of which would have
made him a very rich man. went to
his hotel one day about six months ago
to look at one Of his schemes. | won't
tell you what, because you'd recognize
the man. was in his room, with two
others, perhaps two hours. In that time
he ordered two small bottles" FIVE
brandy and sodas, one ginger ale and a
Vermouth cocktail. In addition he had
private bottle Of wiskey from which he
now and then took drink. We all had
an occasional pull, but the above list was
his portion. | remarked it and asked
him if he wasn't afraid it would give him
a headache, for this was early in the day
from | to |. He laughed and said he
never had headache in his life. Down
at Cony Island when others drank beer
he had champagne. He was never drunk,
hardly ever fuddled, but all of sudden,
about two months ago, something gave
way, crack, bang, and his never aching
head was gone. He was as crazy as a
Icon. With difficulty he was taken 10
an asylum, where he degenerated into a
hopeless idiot, sank quickly, and was
buried yesterday.
Exceptional case:
Well, yes, in that he had a superb
constitution, a bright, quick wit, and
head that never ached. Also in that he
died luna,ic. But is not exceptional in
the hubit of continuous drink. Very few
people stop to think of it. Go into a
popular restaurant. It's"Hallo whatll
you take: :" all the time. For the fun OF
the thing, stood in the Astor house ro-
tunda at noon to-day and counted the
number of times | was asked to drink in
less than half an hour. Among my
would. be hosts were several newspaper
men, two state senators, first rate actor,
an alderman, and two proprietors and the
manager of the house, an insurance agent,
my brother, and a couple of boys from
the post Office. Did | accept: Igues.
not. Fortunately l have head that
aches - frequently. Experience has
taught me that violation Of natures
law ensures speedy punishment. Ache
From the back of my head to the crown
Of my skull and all along my bumps o.
benevolence ! ache with perfect aching
can stand a moderate quantum Of dissi-
patton, but long ago came to the conclu-
sion that | was ordained to virtue anC
temperance. No, didn't accept but il
struck my thoughtful bump very hard
l looked at the multitude of young and
middle aged men thronging in to lunch
Nearly every one had drink, many hat
two, and a number had several. There
was no confusion, no rudeness, no drunk
enness, nothing to strike the eye Of th'
casual looker-on, but l tell you the wa.
the fiery stuff was gurgled down was
caution to tho copper bOttomed stomach'
which had to take it ard digest it.
Please don't regard me as moralist
Its none of my funeral. Every fellow
has right to do what he pleases will
his own stomach. ] can't drink becaus
it makes my head ache. My yfriend coul
drink because his head never ached. II
died in lunatic asylum and am tellin
about it. That's where come in-see
Now, you know these drinkers are no
the fellows who beat their wives or starv
their children. They are the respectabl
chaps, the workers of their day and gen
Grafton. All right. Go it. Count o
me for an obituary.