The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-08-04
CARDS AND LIQUOR.
TWO VICES THAT HAVE RUINED
MANY A BRIGHT MAN.
Case of q e Who "Might Have Been."
Infatuated with tho Ignis Tatuus Of
Drunk Again.

Not loG ago We went iato Kosinak's 10 get
aGsrh..l 'liiner WLile eating noodle soup
aud hlrISEr,t We saw at a sile table man
with i.a i.r face, penetrating eyt-, ami a
broad forehead In the reign If James
Buchanan ise Was a very prominent politician
a. stump SPEAKER h., had few equals Hs
h. written heading ARTICLES for many lady
newspapers, and h. Is u thorough Political
,,unonlst. Tlntr hal eNktently treated him
LarShy. He hooked like AL old bur,io'k burr
GO 10 seed His shabby coat vas buttonsd
Ii 1T 10 hi, throat, but not tight enough ~
lid the dirty flannel undershirt beneath IT,
tor h. wore ncitler collar nor muslin gar
meat His shoe, were cracked, anl his SOFT
f,lt hat Was much the worse for wear. There
Wa not the slightest trace OF dissipation
about him He seemed downcast ami llst In
thought
At a loss t. account for the change in Li,
appearance. We invited him 20 dine. He took
po:ato salad ami some beer, but VA, moody
and reserved He would not talk about HIM
kelf and he cared not 10 talk about ytudy
else II was evident that he was very needy.
When a - mote was pressed into hi, hand his
eyes tiled with tears
Il did not ask You for this" he said, in u
voirc brJk, II With emotion.
M, hpi,sN, YOU did not" we agreed But
We ln,A Non rced it. Take it. and get clean
undcr, ln,Ics ati II shirt. We know that you
have no appetite for liquor, or We would not
offer it to You II you are ever again M go.si
circumstances You can repay it."
He rose and prasp~l lis conyuhively by the
hand IN never forget thi, II, Ion, as !
live h. said i,npressively, AMI walked hur
ricdy from the restaurant
THE LX-coNoREssM>N's FATAL sEcgEr
Capt W, a wellknovn gambler, sat
twenty fc,t away. The old man hal hardly
rachcl the silewalk before the captain was
ut our Side Il saw You talking with the con-
gresham just now, he said "and think
saw yon givo him some money. Did he a,h
yuu tur any
"N,.' was the answer. He looked poor
unL ,,,,lr. AMI gave lin enough to iix HIM
self up That was all lie las guli" ont to
buy IA shirt AMI collar ami clrim unl'feloth
ing"
The captain hal II sarcastic smile ON his
face "Cuun. with me, " he slnl, "lld see how
he fixes himself NJ 1t will interest men like
you
After payin.. the rckoning, We followed
the captain ll' escorted us around the cor
ncr. tpa narrow stairway We stumbled into
little entry on the second floor. There u
bell was rtng \ small panel in the center
Of the door was slid, and BLACK face appear
ed at tho opening. The captain was recog.
ninsl and We were admitted without hesita-
ton. The room was carrt'd AMI furnished
with al attra tive Slloard. After nosteii-
ing our lips We went into an adjoining apart
ncnt Ii contained II faro bank. Half a
dozen players sat around the table. Tho
silence was only broken by the mellow click.
ing Of ivory chips.
One glance was enough. The Congressman"
was there. the most interested player Of tho
lot Hc va 50 intent upon the game that le
took no heed Of hi,surroundinss, His fingers
lovingly played with the chips. Every card
was watched as though life on death depended
upon it, B.ad, of sweat stoul on the broad,
white brow. His eye, glowed with fcverish
impulses He lost the last cent Of his 81 noto
calling the turn After vainly trying to
beg or borrow fresh chip he drew long
breath and arose from the table As he saw
us hi, face colOred and he merry ou,y clutcbed
his Goa. at the throat Its worse than a
taste for liquor" he said, upoloEeirally 81
couldn't help it But was on the verge Of
pay you back III five minutes.
His countenance fell at the shake of the
head, and he went down stairs. The secret Of
his downfall was out. Might noon and
morning, observed the captain, has he been
at the faro table for ten years, anu night,
noon ami morning will be remain there until
he dies
Ten DAYS ago he stood before lis again in
,,,i 4 upt a.
paper. lie wa, still beating the colscs and
dngl,s If life in hi, effort, H. feed bis passion
for gambling.
AN uNQuESCnABLE APPETITE.
1hes efforts however, contrast unfavnrahly
with those of man with an ,unqu,nclabe
appetite for liouor He was formerly night
r.ltor of unsurpassed ability tine Saturday
afternoon he stood on the curb II picture OF
sahicss and distress brother journalist,
who had Just drawn weeks salary, passed
him. Touched by hi, mo'lrniul rountrnanre,
he turned back, saying, John, what's the
matter with yon' You look troubled
1Lop Door fellows chest h,aled, and there
yeme,l 10 be "A choking sensation III his throat.
Finally he said. "Mt vfc is sik and have
been out Of work some time haven't
cent, and owe six weeks rent. "xpo't tC
nll Tue NlDlt biIlllN out 'li nv sf" '"i'
when 90 home tonight"
The friend gave him $40, nnd pressed On t.
report IA meeting ia Wall street I'm hour nj
terwari while returning t. the oh'e, N
reached the saloon The unfortunate nigh
eltor stood at the door AMI took him by thu
L.,l Il the coat Il want you to come in ant
take a drink with me- he 'aia in niaudlit
tone
His friend appreciated the situation in al
instant. The invitation was accepted Afte
the drinks had disappeared ami were paid for
The friend inquired Why, John, where die
you got your money
"Strurk a fresh sucker an hpuraso Tor tlo,
was the prompt reply.
The city Is filed with men who have drop
pet from the ladder 4 fame ani who draw
,ustenance for their passion from the INDUS
trious members Of the generation VINO nav
succerl-I them. You tinl them in restau
rants, at horse races, sthe streets and else
where. but YOU too often find them "hrr
they ar, the least wplcome-at your desk. q
New York Letter
Itepairinp and Kemodp1ing Noses.