The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-03
TEMPERANCE.
PAUL'S DOWNFALL.

How and Where Ho Began His DoWnWaro
Career-A True story.
One afternoon, a few weeks since,
while passing through one of the prin-
cipal business streets Of large city,
We came upon crowd of scl,ool-boys
standing in front of saloon. The
boys had come out of the school-house
only few moments before, and had
their books and states, etc., in their
hands. They were company Of
bright, intelligent, happy-looking lads,
but they all seemed deeply interested
in something that was going on inside
OF that saloon. As they opened their
ranks to make way for us to pass we
stopped and asked what it was that had
attracted such large crowd of boys.
Paul Thompson's been in fight in
the saloon there, and policeman has
just gone to arrest him" said one Of
the boys.
While he was speaking large, blue
coated, brass-buttoned officer came out
leading man, or rather jerking him,
by the coat-collar. The man in GUS
tody was young, with slight form and
delicate features, and as we looked in
10 his face we saw traces Of intelligence
and cultivation. 80
HE is drunk said another boy,
land when he's drunk be is always
ugly and wants to fight. This isn't the
first time he has been taken, either"
The crowd of boys followed the po-
liceman and his prisoner, and we soon
lost sight of them. As we passed on
we noticed the public school building
was only short distance from that sa-
loon; many of the scholars had to pass
by it every day. The same proprietor
had been in possession of the building
for ten years past. Only six years be-
fore Paul Thompson had graduated
from the high school. He was schol-
ar of high standing, too. But he had
been in the habit Of passing this dan
gerous corner for years before he grad
lated. He had been attracted to it in
his boyhood, as the boys just spoken of
had been, by some similar occurrence.
lie began by looking in to see what
was going on behind the green screen
doors. Then he stepped inside to hear
what the men were talking about. The
saloon-keeper noticed him. for he had
a manly bearing, and belonged to a
family in high standing. "A
| He encouraged the boys coming in
with pleasant, fattering words, and
one day he gave him a glass of beer k
drink. Paul thought it was manly to
take the offered glass, buthe could only
drink part of it; he did not like
the taste; it was bitter; but the sa
loon man patted him on the shoulder
and told him to drink as much as HI
could. and it would make man o
him. Paul knew it was wrong, ant
when he went home he felt ashamed
to stay in the presence of his good
sweet mother. He could not look he
in the face; every smile she gave hin
and every kind word made him fee
more and more guilty. He resolves
never to pass by the saloon again
but to 90 home another way, although
it was much farther But someho,
he did not go the other way but
: few times There seemed to be
fascination about that saloon, and b
would linger around it. That was tn
beginning. Now we see Paul ThomF
son constant frequenter to this sam
, saloon. He had been going dowr
down from bad to worse, for six year
or more-the years, too, of his lii
which were the most important to hil
the time when he ought to have bee
|, acquiring true, honorable, mani
! character. His mother used to Low
to hear his step on the walk, and b
cheerful, boyish whistle when he cam
bounding home from school, so happ
: and light-bearted. But now that des
mother listens and listens night aftt
night for his step with an anxio,
heart. She has pleaded with prayer
! and tears for his reform; but the 'hab
begun in cobwebs has ended in ire
: chains" He is slave to liquor. Nov
!, boys. this case of Paul Thompson is
great warning to all of you, Don
stop at saloons, even to look in. Gro
over on the other side, and shun thol
: terrible places where 80 many have 10
their manhood and their soul. Remen
DER that every poor, miserable drum
. ard began his downward career whe
Q he took his, first glass. Susan T. Pc
~, IN Yotsths Temperance Banner. 4