Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-05
RUM's RED RUIN.
The Late John u. Coughs Wonder fA !
Elnuurnce.
SIis Abostrophc To water aud ferri
BILE Invective Against Rim.

The greatest STRAIN OF elndrehte that
ever fell from the lips of the late John y
Cough were uttered 10y him in Cleveland
quarter OF II century ago. In 1860 he wa4
delivering temperance lecture IN the
Forest City. During the lecture lie heliv-
cred an apostrophe 10 cold water aid
powerful execration 3n rnm. Mr.. Gousl,
stepped forward on the rosltl,m during hi
lecture and had glass oi water IN HI,
hand. Holding it up 10 the audience h,
spoke RS follows
AN APosTRoPIfE TO WAFER.
There ia no poison in that cup ne
fiendish spirit dwells beneath those cryslal
drops to luie you and /, aud all of us, to
ruin no spectral shadows play upon iis
@aveiess surface no widows groans nor
orphans tears rise TO God from those plac.
i'd fountains. Misery. crime, wretchednest
woe, want and rags come not within the
hallowed precincts where cold water reigns
supreme. Pure now as when il left its ma
tive heaven, giving vigor to our youth,
strength to our monhood and solace TO our
old age. Cold water is
BEAUTIFUL AND BRIGHT,
and pure everywhere. In the moonlit
fountain and the sunny rills in the deep
tangled wildwsod and the catarac;'s spray
in the hand of beauty and on the lips of
manhood, cold water ia beautiful every
where %
AN ExECRATfoN OF RUN.
Still holding the glass in his hand NJ.
Cough delivered the following execration
on rum: "Rum! There is poison in
that cup! There is a serpent in that cup
whose sting IS madness and whose embrace
is death. There dwells beneath that sniil
ing surface fendish spirit which for
centuries has been wandering ovef the
earth, carrying on a war OF desolation and
destruction against mankind, blighting
and mildewing the noblest affections of
the heart, and corrupting with its foul
breath the tide of human life, and chang.
ing the glad, green earth into a lasar house.
Gaze on it But shudder dis you gaze |
rhose sparkling drops are murder IN DIS
guise 30 quiet now, yet widows groans
and orphans tears and maniacs' yells are
in that cup, The worm that dielh no,
and the fire that is not quencled are in
that cup. Peace and hope and love and
truth dwell not within that fiery circle
where dwells that desolating monster
which men call Rum. Corrupt now Nj
when it left its native hell, giving FIRE tc
the eye, madness to the brain and rum ll
the soul. Rum is vile and deadly and nc.
cursed everywhere: The poet would liker
it in its fiery glow TO the flames that flick.
er around the abode of the damned. The
theologian would point you TO the drunk
ard's life and thunder in your ear The
drunkard's doom, while the historian
Would unfold the dark record of the pas
and point you to the fate Of empires and
kingdoms lured to ruin by the siren song
of the templer, and sleepiiig now in cold
obscurty the wrecks of what once wer,
great, grand aud glorious. Yes rum il
corrupt and vile aud deadly and accurset
every where. Tit type. and semhance ol
all earthly corrulitionl Base art lhon ye
rs when the wise man warned rs OF thy
power and babe US flee thy enchantmenl
Vile art thou yet as when thou first wen
forth on thy unholy mission, filling tn
earth with desoatiJn aud madness, wo
and anguish. Deadly art tlion yet Il
when thy envenomed tooth first took las
hold OH human hearts, and thy serpen
tongue first drank up the warm life bloc,
III imlhortal souls. Accursed art thou 4
when the bones OF thy first victim rotted il
a damp grave, and its shrek echoed alouI
the