The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-28

An Experience lie Had with Nasty, Artemus
Ward and the Fat Contributor.
New York Star

New York star
The death Of John 3. Cough was not sur
prise to his intimate friends, as no had been in
miserable health for more than year He be-
lieved that his end was near, and he had made
every preparation for it, He had engagements
until some time in March. and he said thatif he
was spared TO I'LL them he would then bid fare
well to the lecture field Only few days be-
fore ne was stricken down he talked for an hour
on this subject with Star reporter at the ST.
Denis Hotel The writer had not seen him for
several years. and Mr.. Cough asked If he APP
peared much older than at the last meeting.
When answered In the affirmative, he said in
most pathetic tone:
YES my career Is nearly run. fear when
my engagements, which end in March, are fin
ished will have to give up.n
"You may live long time vet if you take suf-
ncient rest, remarked the reporter.
REST 10 what would hasten the END" he said.
Tor II Is the love that have for my work that
Keeps me alive. / do not fear death; but do
not want to leave as long as l can hold up my
hand against that diabolical foe, rum. If my
strength holds out shall make other engage
ments. and when die 1 hope it will be as the
french sergeant, at my post of duty, and then
could say to my old foe. have surrendered only
you have made strong fight"
les, and my antagonist has been cruel one
For every blow have dealt have received two.
NO man has had to endure more than l. have
been slandered from the very day that enlisted
In the hight against rum up to the present time,
but expected it and have never once been dis
heartened. Thousands Of attempts have been
made to black-mail me, but none of them sue
ceeded. l have no doubt but that plenty of
good people believe that drank after beginning
temDerancA mt 1iyiu
That my work is nearly DONE that could not
nave LED more correct life than have since
that time. Not long ago, while conversing with
some friends was seized with terrible pains in
my left side and screamed in my agony. One of
the persons present was physician, and he ad-
vised me to take little brandy. l refused, and
ne SAID that there was certainly no harm in do
ing So az it would give me instant relief. l said
was satisfied that was so, but that preferred
death While it would have been no harm to
me, perhaps, harm would have resulted to the
cause of temperance. People would have said
that John b. Cough drank, and it would have
been added that did not believe it wrong to
take drink once In while
Another thing that have never done is to
break the Sabbath day. I have never Travelled
on Sunday. and have never hesitated in break
ing an engagement rather than do So 1 never
receive visitors on that day, no matter who they
are. Ii it is possible go to church twice. and
always walk; / would not think of riding. Now
don't understand that think it would be sin to
do so, but as l said before, have to be careful,
so as to avoid giving the champions of rum an
opportunity to injure my character. 1t used
to DO no uncommon thing for glass of whisky
to be sent to my room at various hotels and
after left the place it would be said that had
whisky sent to my room. Not long ago, at no.
tel in an Indiana town, two theatrical people or
dered a negro to take glass of whisky to my
room. In few minutes he returned to the bar
with the empty glass, and said that Mr.. Cough
was very much obliged. The actors thought it
was good joke, and they told the negro to
carry me another. In the course of a few min
utes he again returned and said that Mr.. Cough
again was very much obliged. The third was
ordered with the same result While the negro
was being dispatched with the fourth the report
was current that was drinking whisky as fast
a crowd to the bar-room. When the negro re-
turned he was so drunk that he could hardly
walk. He knew we'll that would not allow him
in my room with whisky, so he drank it himself.
"Once in Pennsylvania hotel a man ordered
the bartender to send a cocktail to my room.
When the waiter arrived at my door with it
Indignantly ordered him away and then followed
him to the bar-room Did you send that to mep
asked the bartender. He said he did, and /
said: Don't you think you are contemplate
curP He turned red in the face and pointed to
the man who ordered it. He was the proprietor
of saloon, and / simply asked him if it was
necessary to answer my arguments against in
temperance by resorting to such contemplate
lrlckS as Indts ne cOulu not answer me.
''That story going the rounds of the press
about Artemus Ward. Nasty and the Fat Con-
tributor coming to my room and ordering four
cocktails. and Ward drinking two of them, to
give the impression that drank one, is not cor
rect They innocenty came to call on me one
Sunday at the fremont House in Chicago, |
politely requested them to leave as did not re-
ceve visitors on the Sabbath. They did so, but
the Fat Contributor went and had it published
that did receive them. Next day we all met at
H. a~N n-I A.
emit, excoriated the Fat Contributor, as did Arte-
mus Ward.
''Not long ago basket of wine was sent to me
c. O. d. Fortunately the express agent was a
temperance man and a friend of mine, and he
told me about it. / sent for my physician and
instructed him to get the wine and send it to the
hospital. Suppose had innocently paid the
charges and taken the wine out2 1t would have
been very difficult for me to explain.
''As for the number of black mail letters have
received they are too numerous to mention
But understand that every public man receives
them. Once when ex- Governor Clatlin, of Mas
sachusetts, and the late Henry Wilson were at
my house received one. They both told me
not to mind it as they each had stacks of them
Zone OF the latest OF the experiences l had of
an unpleasant nature was when I was on my
way to Boston. There were two men sitting in
the seat in front of me, and one of them said:
John b. Cough was so drunk he could not lect-
ure last night don't believe it. said the
other 1T is fact, and I prove it, I
jumped to my feet and pointing my finger in
his face, said: You lie!' Who your asked
the man. I answered: John B. Cough the man
you SANDER This created great excitement
and the man left the car
But this is only the dark side of the temper
ance advocates career For that matter, it is
sometimes unpleasant to be public man. You
are pointed at on the street. and you frequently
hear people abusing you. Only today young
Scotchman called on me- He was terrible
drunkard, and few weeks before he had come
to me to ask for advice. gave it to him. and he
promised to quit drinking. He called to-day to
say that he did not have the strength. AS he
was going he said: Goodbye, Mr.. Cough; Pm
gone laddie.' 1t so affected me that called him
back. told him to try it one week longer; that
as he did not have the strength, he should ask
God for it every time that he was tempted. He
promised he would. Now, here was a we'll
educated young fellow going to destruction. If
l could only save him! How can give in when