The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-17

TEMPERANCE.
Mr.. COUGH.

plectic tit on the lecture platform in
Philadelphia were: 81 have seven years
in the record of my own life when l
was held in the iron grasp of intemner-
apce. lwould give the world to blot
it out; but, alas! can not" Stepping
forward with impressive gesture the
lecturer said: Therefore, young men,
make your record clean"
Mr.. Cough was an Englishman by
birth and was of humble parentage.
He was born August %, 1917. His
father was a soldier in the British serv-
ice, and his mother was during score
OF years the schoolmistress in the vii
lage of Sandgate, where they resided.
In his youth he knew what poverty
was, for when the elder Cough was alb
sent in war time Mrs. Cough was some.
times sorely straitened for means. The
boy appears to have had educational
advantages, however, and when eight
years old was a remarkably good read
er. Often while reading to his mother
as she sat working by her cottage door
strangers would stop to listen, and he
was frequently sent for to read to ladies
and gentlemen at the village library.
When he was twelve years old his father
decided to send him to America with a
family then about to emigrate. in order
that in this country he might learn a
trade and establish himself in life. The
family settled on farm in the interior
of the State of New York. He remained
with them two years, but in 1881, hay
ing obtained his fathers consent, he
went to the city of New York so learn
trade. Meanwhile he had become
member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Shortly after his arrival in
New York he found employment in the
Methodist Book Concern as errand-boy
and as learner of the book-binder's
trade. He became skillful workman,
and as his prospects began to improve
he sent for his parents and sister to
join him. His mother and sister ar
rived in 1888, but his father did not ac-
company them, being loath to lose his
his pension of twenty pounds sterling
per annum. For short time the fam
lily lived comfortably and in happiness,
but the depression in business which
occurred in 1888 resulted in loss Of
employment and in series of severe
trials. In the summer of 1884 Mrs.
Cough died of apoplexy, and soon
afterward Mr.. Cough commenced that
career of dissipation which came so
near wrecking him wholly, and which
in his lectures on temperance he has
described with such terrible vividness.
He had been under the influences of a
mothers love. and had been q pure.
minded young man. After his moth
er's death his ability as story-tellel
and q mimic made him welcome to a
certain circle of young men. He be-
came an inebriate and sank so low that
Lis companions, who had enticed him
into evil ways, forsook him. During
the years from 1884 to 1912 he went from
place to place, sometimes appearing
on the stage as comic singer or as 9
low comedian, and sometimes working
at his trade, but always sinking lower
and lower into the depths Of scottish
ness. In 1888 he went on fishing
voyage from Newburyport, and was
gone several months. On his return
he married and did well for time, but
relapsed. A child was born to him but
died in infancy. Left at one time by
his wife, who went to Providence tC
care for an invalid sister, he came neal
being burned to death in his own bed
which, in his drunken carelessness, hi
had set on fire. Delirium tremens fol
lowed, and then his wife died, and a
last he seemed to be without a frient
in the world. The story is terrible
one, and it would be charity not to re
peat it, were it not that Mr.. Cough il
his own inimitable way has told il
again and again as warning t.
others. The turning point in Mr.
Coughs life was in October, 1912. On
a Sunday evening he was walking
along the streets of Worcester, miser
able and hopeless, when he was touched
upon the shoulder. Turning he met tn,
kindly glance of Mr.. Joe Stratton, VIII
asked him to go to Temperance
! meeting the next night and sign tn
pledge. He promised to do so, ant
: went. Another attack of delirum fol
lowed, nearly costing him his life. Re
covering, he kept his pledge fiv
, months, when he fell, but was soon re
stored, and since then he has been
thorough-going Temperance man. Hi
; qualifications for public speaking wer
called into requisition, and for abou
forty years he has been one of the mos
!, welcome occupants of the lecture pla,
!. form, not only in this country, but i
England. He has been heard wit
4 eagerness by all classes of society, an
a his work in the Temperance C. use ha
a been broad and effective. Probably n
o man has ever appeared upon the lee
q ture platform more frequently. II
!. has travelled something like half mil
r ion miles, and has delivered somethin
n Ike eight thousand lectures. In hi
n later years he has taken other subject
o il addition to Temperance to tai
!. u on. He has been interested Away
d in religious matters, and has delivere
number of addresses at religion
gatherings. In 1878 he was in England
q and while there spoke a number {
4 times. He was warmly welcome
}, there, and was heard by immens
. audiences. This was his secor visi
d his first having been made in 1858.
8 Speaking of this remarkable man tn
Is N. Y. Examiner says:
His influence in the cause of Ten
perance has been beyond human con
y putation. He has carried convictio
10 into thousands of hearts, and tho,
10 sands of homes have cause TO bless h
a. name. He had long made his home