The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1886-03-20
TEMPERANCE
MN oouoH

plaHiiHlfuu tho trctuu platform IN
phiInddphInvcm ~ mtr eprn years |
n rhr record VI my own NO when /
w.. hell ln tbo iron Vrn.p Vt ntompar |
nncr lwoud give the world 10 blot |
II oui but alns' can not Stepping |
forward with impressive gesture the |
lecturer Nldf Therefore. Young men,
make Your record clcan
hlr tough wns nn Englishman by
birth and WIS of humble pnrcuiago.
IT, wa, born August y, 1911 lls
father was "a soldier IN lhe British Wry-
icr, aud his mother was during y score
Of vonr- the schuolmislross In the VII
lugr of Sandgatc, whcro they resided
IN bis Youth he knew what poverty
was, for when the elder Cough was ab.
sent in war time Mrs Cough was some
time, soruly Nrulcncd for means The
boy appear, lo have had educational
advantages. however. aud when eight
years old WAS Il remarkably good read
er. often while reading 10 his mother
ns she sat working by her cottage door
stranger, would stop 10 listen, and he
was frequently sent fort read to ladies
aud gentlemen at the village library,
When he was twelve years old his father
decided To send him TO America with
family then abou, tn emgrate. in order
that IN this country he might learn u
trade and establish himself In life The
family settled on Il farm IN the interior
Of the State Of New York. lie remained
with them two ycnrs. but in 1884, hay-
ing obtained his fathers consent, he
went to the cily of New York SO learn
trade. Meanwhile he had become n
member Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church shortly after his arrival In
New York he found employment in the
NJ thudi.t Book Concern rs crrnnd-boy
aud ns learner Of the book binders
trade lie became skiltul workman,
aud NJ his prospects began to improve
be- sent for hi, parents and sister To
JON him His mother and sister ar-
rived in 1888 but his father did not ne
company them, being loalh To lose his
his pension of twenty pounds sterling
per annnm. For n short time the fam
ily lived comfortably aud in happiness,
but the depression In business which
occurred IN 1888 resulted In loss Of
employment aud in series of severe
trials. In the summer Of 1884 Mrs.
Cough died Of npoplcNy. and soon
nltcrward MIR Cough commenced that
career oi dissipation which came ~
near wrccking him wholly, and which
In hi4 lectures on temperance ho has
described with such terrible yiYidncss.
He had been under the influences 0f q
mothers love, and had been n pure
minded Young man. After his moth
er's death his ability as u story-tcllcr
and a mimic made him welcome to n
certain circle nf Young men. lie be-
came an inrhralo and sank 50 low that
his companions, who had Cnticrd him
into evil ways. forsook him. During
the years from 1884 to 1872 he went from
place 10 place, sometimes appearing
on the stage as comic singer or as Il
low comedian, aud sometimes working
nt his trade, but always sinking l0w0I
aud lower into the depths of scottish.
ness. IN 1888 he went on fishing
voyage from Ncwbrypor,, aud wai
gone several months. On his return
he married aud did well for Il time, bui
rrlapsed. A child was born to him bui
died In infancy. Left ut one time b.,
his wife. who went 10 Providence q
care for an invalid sister. hc came neal
being burned 10 death in his own bed
which. IN his drunken carelcssness, h,
had set on lire. Delrinm lremens fol.
lowed, and then his wife died. and nj
lnst be- seemed tO be- without friend
In the world. Tho story Is terribl,
one. and il would be- charity not ~ re-
peat IL. were il not That Mr.. Cough In
his Own inimitahle way has told II
again aud again as warning tC
others. The turning point In Mr.
Coughs life was IN October, 1872. On
Sunday evening be- was walking
along the streets of Worcester. miscr
able and hopeless, " hen he was touchct
upon the shoulder. Turning be met lh'
kindly glance If Mr. Joe Stratton. wht
asked him b. 20 Ia Temperance
meeting the next night and sign III,
pledge. lie promised 10 do 20. an,
went. Another attack " delirium fol
lowed, nearly costing him his life. Re
covering. he kept his pledge liy'
months. when he fell. but was soon re-
stored. aud since thon he has been
th0rOngh-guing Temperance man. III
qualifications for public speaking wor
called into rrquisltiDn, and for abOu
forty years he has been one of the mos
welcome occupants ~ the lecture plat
form. not only in this country. but II
England. He has been heard will
cagornrss by all classes of society. an'
hi. work IN the Temperance cause ha
been broad and effective. Probably NJ
man has ever appeared upon the lee
lure platform more frequently. ~
has Travelled something like half mill
ion miles. aud has delivered sDmethin,
like eight thousand lectures ln hi
later years he has taken other subject
. In addition 10 Temperance 10 tall
upon. lie has becn Interested alway
. In religious matters. and has deliyerr'
/ number ~ addresses at religion
gatherings. In 1878 he was In England
. and while there spoke number o
times. lie WIS warmly welcome,
thep. and was heard by immensi
, audiences. This was his second visit
I bis iir,t having bcon fsade IN 1853.
/ Speaking of this remarkable man ih'
n Y. Efrglftsr SAYS.
oils influence In the cause of Ten
pernnce has been beyond human com
! putatiOn. lle has carried conviction
/ into thousands II brarts. and thou
/. sands II home. have cause 10 bless hi
3 nat1e H. had long made his home a
/. Worsrrsr. Mas-.. where his house will
r H. fins dbrary. Is spacious rooms An,
D H. -nrf 1unding estate ~ two hundrr'
( and foity acres. 4 said to b. exception
; ally aiirasliye. A. a popular lccture
, 81. inr'mF was large. but bis hear
D was large. to. For years he support
Z cd the widow and children ~ III
1 stranger who asst induced him to taxi
y the ple,lgr. and BE hand was slway
. open h. the needy. Il 4 not though
I that be- accumulated any considerabl
p prppsrt r.
. oils personal work ln tho world
4 done. ilus his influence is u natur
b. live on long after he Is no NOR
liis lie ~ofk j. bis most speaking eu
!. bgy.
We. THuuAs Cuxssr mentions in IN