The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-01
LOUIS XVIII.

versation with party of friends the other night, said: am as much of a temperance man as any of you, but l think il is only by education and moral ! training that Arkansaw will ever become noted as a mild commonwealth. The leaders ofthe temperance movement in this state, how many of them proved themselves to be insincere! This caused many hones, followers to suspect the en- tire movement of fraud. Let me relate to you circumstance in my own experience. When the reform bugle was sounded, l was one of the first men so respond. knew that was injuring myself by drink. and with the hope of a popular and united effort of the country, was determined if possible to remove whisky beyond the feverish grasp of the drunk ard. and by moral suasion to influence the youth of the land against its use. l was not powerful speaker. could not, like some of the brothers. get up and paint a picture that would make an audience weep. bu, was sincere and deeply in earnest in whatever l said, and flaaered myself that my manner, fl not my speech. had effect. On one oc- casion we were 10 hold a kind of tenn 1 perance revival in the Swan Lake district. Lecturers from all over the counry came 10 lend their assistance. and among the big guns that assembled felt myself to be kind of poodle reformer l,seemed. too, ,ha, my humble bearing impressed the big guns. tor they did not condescend to consa,; me op any subject. Extensive preparations were made You would have though; that famous camp-meet- ing was about to be inaugurated. Our headquarters were established at the house of General Gosman. the famous reformer, and although was assigned to pleasant room in the generals mansion, yet knew ,ha, was no, regarded as an important factor in the cause.
 Well, the work began with an ear. nestness that challenged my admiration. The lecturers from abroad spoke with d auency that made me feel ashamed of myself and the old general warmed in the oratorical work until l though, he must be inspired. The people became enthusiastic. and many young man who had spent his days in idleness at the vile crossroads grocery, came forward. shook hands with the beaming lecturers and promised never again to stray from the paths of sobriety. One afternoon i, struck me ,ha, the color of the generals face was rather roseate, and on closer observation, thought that l could dis. cover a thickness pronunciation hardl, in keeping with the strictes, observance of ,o,al abstinence. concluded tc watch my worthy leaders. but afterward, 1 felt ashamed of my suspicious. lret,, soon. however. l was convinced. for the a,d general actually staggered. When we d.. xen, ;s the house. 1 watched ;o sec Il the gentleman would hand ou, d jug. bu, could see no sign ot bottle or any other vessel of suspicious bearing Agaiu Was almost ashamed ot myself for entertaining such suspicious. bu; the leaders seemed to me to be growing drunker and drunker. for af;er awhile the old general mis;ook ] flower on the earpe, fo, chair anu sat down with d terrible Jar. He recovered his composure very quickly. and turning to me said:
 !" When was young man used to drink grea, deal. and now when talk grea. deal abou: drinking. as have been to-day. fec l strange g,ddiness in my head
 "'So do l. eNc,4imed Professor Smith. almost falling otl ., sofa. Whenever l talk about anything else am perfectly steady. bu; when lecture always ge, dizzy
 II did nos reply. was convinced now tha, my brothers had been drinking: tha; they were drunken than they were when they lei, the lecture grounds. Ne were all in the same, large drawing-room, whose eNquis- ite furniture and bus,s of prominen, men charmed me. The perfume of rare :iow- CTS came m a; the windows. and the , breeaes tha, stirred the oleanders inside seemed to bring sweet fragrance from the fields aiar. My lee;urlns friends . moved around. and to me seemed al each turn to get dranker. Once was tempted 10 stand up and tel them of their treaeh- cry. bu, then i, seemed 50 impoli;e to , speak so ot man in his own house. noticed Brother Whitley dodge behind bust. When he stood aside. advanced My companions by this time were mum , bling and lying around in disgraceful