Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-02-21
THE CHECKERED CAREER OF AN OHIO
NAN.
1000, 900 For Ten Drinks.
W. A. T. in Cincinnati Post.

is not essential to the little narrative ]
have to give.
He has been the victim of the stran-
gest vicissitudes that ever, to my per
sonal knowledge, fell to the lot OF any
man. What the final end of his career
NAV be-for he is still on the sunny
side of 50, shall not attempt to con-
lecture.
L first met him before the war in
Perry county, his father having emf
grated to Ohio from New Jersey
some years previously, and upon his
death leaving John very handsome
fortune. / was then struggling under
adverse circumstances to gain liveli-
hood and an education at the same
time.
John Gray was one of my best prac-
teal friends. Himself was a graduate
of Princeton, he volunteered TO be-
come my private tutor, and gave me
such aid and assistance as set me fairly
on the worlds highway. Being some
years my senior he assumed the rela-
ton of an elder brother to me in such
a way that there was no sense OF hui
initiation in accepting his favors.
He entered the mercantile business
in New Lexington in 1858, and became
prospectus, brilliant, and wealthy, he
welded the belle of the county, who
was heiress to fortune equal to his
own.
In 1860 he became wild and dissipa-
ted, and speedily ran through all his
means, and early in 1861 separated
from his wife and two children, leav-
ing them less than 5000 out of $780,
600 He disappeared from Perry
county, and no one, save, perhaps his
wife, who has always retained warm
affection for him, heard from him for
years.
Shortly after the battle OF Gettys-
burg, | met him for the first time in
nearly four years in Washington. He
was cOnvalescing from a wound he
had received in that action, where he
earned fame and promotion at the
head of a Pennsylvania regiment.
Two years later and after the close
of the war | again met him IN the
National capital. He was a pltiable
sight Every line OF his face showed
dissipation. He was ragged and pen
niless, and told me that he had just
sent his wife and children to their old
home in Ohio, giving them the last
cent he had in the world. was able
to repay him partially for his early
kindness, and we parted, and did not
meet FOR almost ten years.
Two or three years later / learned
that he was an extensive planter IN
Mississippi, where he was living with
his wife and children in luxury and
happiness. Three years later l met
his wife, who told me that her hIs-
bands fortune was gone, and he was a
wandeTer, she knew not where.
In 1876, while attending the Centen-
NAL at Philadelphia, met John Gray,
looking as bright and clipper us in the
days of youth. | accompanied him to
his home, in fashionable quarter Of
the city, where | met his wife and
children, now well grown. Not a
word was said of the past, and on one
would have imagined for a moment
that any clouds had ever shut out the
sunlight of their lives. He was mama
ger for a large manufacturing firm,
and was in fair way to retrieve all
his losses. Two years later | found
him in Cleveland working with gang
of street-c,eaners. He said that his
family were back at their Ohio home,
and he was trying to raise money
enough to go West to better his for
tune. again offered to divide with
him, but upon comparing notes it was
discovered he had more ready money
than l, and he refused to accept any
thing.
When / next heard from him he
wrote from Nebraska, asking me to
come and visit him on his rancho and
enjoy Il months hunting. | did not
find it convenient to accept the invita-
ton, and for year or so heard no
more from him.
About one year ago, one cold and
bluStry night, my door bell in Column
bus was rung violently, and upon
opening it | was greeted with:
| saw your number in the directory,
and as | had no money and didn't
want to sleep in the station house, /
called to see YOU
There was nothing about the dilapi-
dated tramp that could recognize I'M
til got him fairly under the gaslight.
and there stood John GRAY, But |
never before had seen him look so
dilapidated, so dissipated or so nearly
lost to all human appearances.
He remained with me Il week and |
got him fixed up and restored to some
thing like his normal condition. One
day he inquired:
whisky is a dreadful thing, isn't
it?"
I assented.
Ten drinks of whisky have cost me
81 100000 in my lifetime"
asked him to explain.
GAS long rs | don't drink it is no
trouble for me to accumulate for
tune, and | have no appitite for rum
But If | swallow one drink I'm gone,
and | never stop until the last dollar
goes to the gin-miI keeper. | have
frequently been worth from $4,000 to
$3.50. \ single drink has wiped it all
out When my money is all gone |
move on to some new field, and my
wife goes back to her old home, where
she has a little property of her own,
until am myself again. But | I'M
derStand that her property is all gone
now, if she should have to come back
TO OHIO again | don't know where she
would 90"
But when you are wealthy why
don't you provide for herr"
"Wcll, there's the trouble. I've al
ways been going to do it. but put it
off till | took the fatal drink. Each
time | think it will never happen
again, and the fatal delay intervenes.
am looSlng faith in myself. and the
next time Twill look out for her first.
and then begin to trust myself once
more.
What do you propose to do next?'
Il have concluded shat New York is
the place for me, and / am now on a
tramp from Omaha to that city.
Once there, something is pretty sure
to turn up
l interested a railway official in John
Grly's history, and secured him trans
portatIon TO the metropolis, which, |
with a small sum of money, was quite |
enough to set him on his feet again.
\ few months ago | found him in
New York, once more on the high
road to prosperity. Securing clerk
ship in a banking house he finally de-
veloped into IA banke and broker on
his own account, in small way ut
first, but is now doing an extensive
and profitable business, and is enjoy
ing life with his family around him.
did not ask him whether he had
made provisions for his wife and chill