The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-03
OLD DEFENDERS.
BALTIMOREs HEROES OF 1912
INTERVIEWER
John G.. Morford. 80 Wears Oid /;
George Boss, O2; samuel Jen-
nings, so: John PeddicOrd, 90; Nn-
thanieI watts, Gothic secret of
Longevity-The Other Side OF the
Prohibition Question.


No sane man will dispute the right
cousness of temperance in all
things. AS physical science teaches
that there is no such thing rs dirt
that which is commonly called such Is
only matter out of place; so moral
science teaches that proper use of any
thing made for man Is never wrong, |
but that In the abuse of such thing lies |
the sin. In the present day, when pro-
hibition has become almost national |
problem, when the adhercnts of that |
cause having graduated from a move
ment which urged merely temperance,
become themselves so Incorporate in
their wcll-meant fanaticism, as to de- |
mand the absolute prohibition of the
manufacture and sale of necessary
stimulants, it may well be questioned |
whether they have not gone too far |
When they misquote scripture and
boldly assert among other awful things,
that alcohol however used, shortens
human life it would be well to place
examples besides assertions.
With view Of getting at solid facts,
it was decided that a reporter should
be sent to interview a number of old
gentlemen in this city; men who were
well enough known TO dispel any IL
lusions that might be held concerning
their ages or probity. The reporter
concluding that the remaining members
of the Old Defenders Association were
about as well known as any persons in
this city, he set out upon his mission.
Mr.. james 9. Morford of No. 10 N.
Bond street was first seen. He was
particular to impress upon his hearers
that he is genuine temperance man.
and he exhibited badge of the
William Writ Temperance Society,
which he helped to organize in 1871.
He kindly gave sketch of his life,
and said that his father kept public
| house upon the old York road where
| good liquors of all kinds were kept.
| He said that he assisted, when q boy,
at the bar occasionally, but seldom
| touched drop Of liquor After join
| ing the temperance society he became
| total abstainer. In his old age,
however, he found times when q slim
liant is necessity and a little pure
liquor q real benefit. 81 hardly think
that q man of my age is apt to be led
astray by it, " he said good-humorcdly
"but recollect, am still for temper
ance."
Mr.. Samuel Jennings, 80 years old,
| was next seen. This handsome and
venerable man with profusion of sill
| very hair and beard was found in his
room enjoying a lucious plate of fruit.
| He said 81 have always been in the
habit of taking little liquor whenever
| / feel the need of its benefits" His
daughter told the reporter that he
used matted drinks successfully as food
| and stimulant
Mr.. Nathaniel Watts was next inter
viewed. He is nearly ninety. He is
quite talkative and has a clear mind,
although he has difficulty in getting
around.
He said II have never been an alb
stainer. | have always taken a stimu-
liant when and where it was needed.
When ] was a young man ! superin.
tended farm. In those days we
neither rcaped with machine reapers
nor Graded, but sickle was used, and
after Through" was cut we used to
go back and bind sheaves. was
great worker in those days and gen
orally got ahead of the colored hands.
who worked under me. One hot day |
drank too much cold spring water
while overheated, and was Immediately
Frustrated. That time, sir, ! was saved
by dose of good whislley. The great
trouble to-day is that you can seldom
get pure liquor, and / say it is the
poison stuff that does all the harm"
Here the old gentleman went to n secre-
tary and taking out bottle and glass,
pressed the pencil-pusher to try little
whiskey that friend had sent him.
THAT, sir" said he, ''is what | call
pure article, that is Duffy's pure malt
whiskey. That's like they used to
have in my time.
The reporter next visited Mr.. George
Boss, who is in the ninety.second year
of his age, at his quaint old mansion on
South Bond street. Mr.. Boss was at
breakfast, and as his memory is much
impaired and faculties generally feeble,
on account of his extreme age, the re
porter simply greeted him as the old
gentleman walked out to the garden,
which was once Il portion of the old
farm, in which the grandfather Of the
present Mr.. Boss planted now luXuri-
ant boX-tree. The reporter was enter
tanned by the wife and grand niece of
the old defender The former is hale
old lady, who says that in n married
life of over sixty years she had never
known her husband TO be under the
influence of liquor. She said that he
had used it as medicine during his
life, and when he was n sea captain he
always kept some good whiskey or
brandy by him, and considered them
useful to have in emergencies. To the
question as to whether the old gentle
man found anything beneficial in slim
ulants at the present time, the other
lady replied that she had procured upon
the recommendation of friend some Of
Duify's pure malt whiskey and gave 1t
to him with good effect. She further
said that an invalid lady in the same
house also used a little now and then
and would sometimes request 1t when
she felt tine need of it,
Mr.. John Peddccord between 80 and
so years old, is at the Aged Men,
Home. He is quite active and he
, greeted the reporter kindly, His eyes
twinkled when the reporter stated his
crrand and he assured the scribe that
he had all his life been temperance
advocate, but having contracted q
cough recently which weakened him
considerably, and having bottle OF
Duffy's pure malt whislley at hand,
he contrary to his usual rule, tried it.
"Well, asked the reporter, what
was the result?'
The old gentleman smiled mischiev.
, ously and replied, "Well, something
helped me up about that time, certain. y
The reporter left bordering deeply
upon the truth he had just heard, He
! | was satisfied that the evidences he had
seen in these old heroes was proof