The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-22
What Became Of n Drink.

-
In the year lS40, OH tho third day Of Octo-
her, n traveller from Richmond, i'm Virginia,
10 Philadelphia got out OF train at tho re.
freshment station at Baltimore. He was
tired with the journey. and still had some
distance to CO. A friend whom he met there
invited him to take drink. What harm
could there Ee in thatl Was it not the part
of good fellowship to do 500 Who but n
churl, a fellow who ought to be treated will,
could raise an objection, The two friends.
with good intentions went to the bar. Had a
drink. What was the resultt
Tho gentleman who was thus tempted was
y poet OF the very highest promise His
career had been wild and bad. His name
was Edgar Allen Poe. His tales had revealed
rare genius. One or two poems he had
written were radiant with promise. Every
literary critic was assured that il he would
become steady and settle down to n good life
he would be one of the brightest stars of
American literature. And the counsels Of
wise men and the influence Of good friends
mad effect. While in Richmond he had
vowed reformation. lie signed the pledge
and Joined n temperance society to ennblo
him to resist his great foe. strong drink. He
gave lecture OH total abstinence which was
attended by the best people IN Richmond,
who rejoiced at the change and were full OF
hope. A lady whom he had long loved now
consented to All engagement, and arrange
ments were made for the wedding. All his
friends were satisfied that the man had
10 had am invtssato tssaSs to work and and live ie
some literary work. Life was bright, and
all promised we'll. But whilst staying for a
few minutes at Baltimore, wellmean-
ing friend persuaded him once more to
,nan the door to tho demon who had
blasted his iife up to that hour,
out was now subdued. What induce
atoms that. ono glass could do no .harn
we're made, what jests at being milk-sop
were employed, what sneers at teetotal
fanaticism were indulged in, wo cannot
| the lock. He took n drink. There are
| foolish persons who say they have no
sympathy with n man who cannot take just
one glass or two, perhaps, and stop there.
No wise lover ot his follows will say that.
Some Of the very best men cannot. 1t is
| often the finest brains that are driven
into insanity with n few drops of alcohol,
which speedily destroys tho equilibrium OF
tho system, as II little snake poison will do.
Poe could not stop at one glass; At Havre
| was taken back to Baltimore in the custody
Of the conductor Of the Philadelphia train.
| There he did what others have done-ral
riot in drink, completely mastered by the
| demon he had been foolish enough to sst free
In the course OF q few days he was taken t.
| tho hospital in an insensible state. On Sunday
morning, October Z, he awoke to conscious
ness Where am If' he asked. a kind
|
"You are cared for by your best friends
After pauss Poe solemnly replied
my best friend would be the TnaI
who would hlow ont my brains.
In ten minutes he was corpse.
Tho next day he was inferred in tho burial
ground Of Westminster Church. and
America lost one OF the most promising and
brilliant writors she ever possessed. What
became Of tho friend who induced him t.
take that drink at tho Baltimore refresh
ment-roomi What did he think of it wheI
lie learned the results What will he thinl
OF it in eternity II angels have any insgh
into futurity, what must they have felt 4
permitted to witness at the refreshment bar
Surely some demon sent a thrill Of hellis
Joy throughout the pit as it saw the man lf
the glassi Oh, it is terrible to think what
brilliant light in English literature that glas
auenchedl And one is reminded Of a certai
poet, who lived many centuries previou
who said, possibly seeing similar evil in h
day. "Woe unto Tim that giveth his neigl
bor drink. Hunt Cooke. in the Ere
man.
A Boys Terrible Inheritance.
The most striking illustration that is 4