Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1883-12-12

A True Story.

i''t' II - Il ScllcTdl Topic
amongst all classes, yet it does not ap-
pear that the temperance movement is
/ producing any permanent effect.
Whisky is King, and shows his deeds of
conquest, whichever way we turn.
Although | have never raised nv voice
in the cause of temperance, vet it WAS
neither ignorance nor the want of ry-
| pcriencc in the scvenfold curse of
strong drink, that kept my tongue still;
but the humiliating confession. for
Illuminating it is, to confess ones self a
drunkard, yet such is my case period
ically.
1t is one of my periodical sprees
that shall try to portray to the best of
my memory. ! had spent what money
l had, sold my last shirt, borrowed and
begged from all my acquaintance
under various pretexts and excuses.
There was one in particular who had
never refused me, ana to him I went,
ne complied with my request, and gave
me note 10 carry to a friend of his
Whlch caused me to cross a certain
bridge. | stood there a few minutes
gazing into the muddy waters beneath
| fancled | saw myself lying at the bot
tom stark and stiff, and heard a voice
I numbering at my ear, Jump, why
doh you jump" | knew that | was
under the influence of nanjn n not,,
yet knew it was only mental delu-
sion caused by whisky and other strong
drinks. found the gentleman and de-
lIvered the note; although he was a
stranger to me, he called me BY name
| by asking me to take a walk. When
we had travelled some distance we en-
tered large building, and ushering
me INTO an office, introduced me to n
gentleman, who questioned me for n
few minutes, then ordered me to follow
MN. We assembled two flights of stairs
when he rang bell which was answer
ed by an attendant | was not prepar-
Tor what saw when the door opened
Imagine to yOurselfa long narrow ward
OF fifteen beds, the most of them Doom
pled by raving maniacs, some cursinp
others screaming "help me, they will
murder me- ! was delivered over to
an attendent, who pointed to vacant
bed, and ordered me to undress, with the
caution make no noise or they would
put saddle on you" The saddle is 4
wide strap of thick leather which
crosses the breast with narrow one
attached that passes over the throat
which IS made fast to the bed: the
hands and feet are also made fast.
The horrors of that night shall never
forget; distinctly heard voices cursing
and laughing, whilst grinning skeletons
Win hldeous forms and frightful aspect
throngcd around my bed, and add TO
this the yelling and cursing of the in
mates, and tell me is whisky worth
such an awful price?
My readers can't imagine the AGONY
l suffered for about a week, although
l had taken Bromide of Potassium and
other drugs generally used in cases of
dellrlum tremens, sufficient to stock n
drug store, yet during that week of
suffering, l never absolutely lost con-
trol OF my senses. knew that all the
frlghtful phantOms were only decisions
OF my fevered brain, and had brought
myself to the very verge of insanity
through intemperance.
After the lapse of a week was well
on the road to recovery; had the
privilege of walking about the ward
which gave me ample opportunities of
studying the ghastly victims of strong
drinks.
Occupying the next bed to me was
one whose hands and feet worked in
cessentantly with a nervous twitching.
and whose purple face, and blood shot
eyes plainly denoted that he was past
all medical aid.
The next was occupied by an old
gentleman from Jersey, he had been
pronounced well, but took a relapse
which heard one of the doctors saw.
was not uncommon.
The next was sitting at the foot of
his bed, most abject looking creature,
clad in ragged coat and dirty greasy
pants. l was informed by one of the
attendants that he was only tramp.
Aye, only tramp! whom none pities.
and all shun. No one gives him a well
come except the rumseller-,Uhen he
has dime, yet he may have felt noble
ambitions stirring his heart, and time
when fond mother and proud father
welcomed their boy home with ill con-
cealed pride sparkling in their eyes.
But alas for the rarity of christian
charity"
The most of the others, were past all
recovery; it was only by their indis-
tinct mutterings that knew they were
alive. They were fed on milk and
whisky, by inserting a spoon between
their teeth, whilst nearly every morn
ing one would be carried out in an un-
dressed pine coffin, with few shavings
packed around them. They had suf-
fered, and paid the penalty of intern
perance.
Nearly every day there came few
lady visitors, who came to see a father.
brother or husband. 1 remember one
lady in particular; she came to see her
husband, who was one of the worst
cases in the ward, in fact, not a trace
of his former self remained, vet this
woman would take his hand, and i'm
print kiss upon his brow, but he
knew her not, his look was vacant, and
his tongue could utter no ineligible
sound. One morning she came as
usual, but he had ceased to breath and
the nurses were preparing to place him
In his coffin when she arrived. shall
never forget her look of blank despair
when she saw he was dead. Perhaps
he had been her whole earthly hope,
and she had been happy, until the
demon of intemperance entered her