The Dawson journal., 1883-08-16
A Strong Man Bound!

A Strong Man Bound!
Few men are prepared to sympa
thize with one who is completely
uuder the dominion OF an imperious
habit.
Indeed, it is difficult to conceive
how q man of brain, grit and culture,
should ever allow himself to be en-
shaved, to that extent, that his will is
surrendered to the cravings of a
morbid and destructive appetite
The subject of this article was such a
man. [ met him in the meridian Of
life, still in the possession of powers
which, if utilized properly, would
have commanded admiration in the
highest walks Of life. Our associa-
ton began in IS in the town
of --, an intimacy subsisted be-
tween US that is scarcely seen where
there is such disparity Of age l
loved him, he was aman to be loved,
honored him for his candor, ad-
mired his splendid parts, and his
varied attainments. For twenty
years he had been addicted to strong
drink, an account of his bitter expe-
Hence [ got from his own mouth
He said that about twenty years be-
fore that time be was member Of
the church, man injured BIN, he
resolved to avenge himself Of his en-
envy, but having too much respect
| for the church than to do this as q
member of it, he resolved to have his
name stricken from the roll, he did
81, promising his already uneasy
conscience that when he had accom-
plished his purpose with his enemy,
he wonld reunite with the church.
This was fatal step when once he
had violated his vows to God and
the church, he found himself an
easy prey to every seductive charm
and influence. Months passed away,
and he did not redeem his pledge to
rejoin the church, but, as might have
been expected, wandered farther away
until believing himself totally unfit
for the companionship OF the good,
he abandoned every hope of reform
and threw himself head-long into the
whirl pool of vicious excuses. Sew
eral times he had ravel in fits of
delir1um tremens He saw his for
tune going, his good name too,
while the wife of his youth almost
hopeless OF his restoration, gave way
to sad repinings She was by nature
one Of the noblest of women, and
possessed a head and heart refined
aud adorned by grace, qualifying her
for the companionship of prince
! A better wife than she, could hardly
be found. He himself, when not
under the influence of intoxicants
was, as husband, as good and kind
as ever woman had, this was her tes-
timony to me, but when intoxicated
he was cruel, sometimes almost te
brutality.
Fe had many times vowed most
solelL1ly that he would never drink
again, bun as often violated his oath
which once or twice he had even had
recorded in the Office Ct the clerk OF
the Superior court, I resolved to
do all that one might do to save him
from the doom that threatened lii,o
He told me all the sad story of his
downfall and the years OF misery
and wretchedness through which he
had passed, and with the tears
streaming from his eyes, promised
me that he would make another des-
perate effort to break the spell that
bound him Months passed by and
his promise was kept, but at last he
yielded again, and in his wild deliri
UNI he drove his wife aud children
from the premises and they were
forced to take refuge under then
, neighbors roof. He fell into a tleeI
, sleep after this fit was over and die
i not wake, it was said, till about til,
) same time the ne&tday. l had beef
informed Of the fact. and was pass
: ing his house several miles in tn
country, when dark cloul over