The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-27
What Became OF a Drink.


In the year 1910, on the third day Of Octo-
bsr, traveller from Richmond, in Virginia,
TO Philadelphia got out of q train at tho re-
freshment station at Baltimore. he was
tirsd with the journey, and still had some
distance to 20. A friend whom he met there
invited him to take drink. What harm
could there be in thatl Was it not the part
of good-fellowship to do 500 Who but e
churl, fellow who ought to be treated with
contempt, some bigoted, miserable teetotaller
could raise an objection? The two friends,
with good intentions went to the bar. Lad
drink What was the result9
The gentleman who was thus tempted was
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
literary critic was assured that IL he would
become steady and settle down to q good lite
he would be ono Of the brightest stars Of
American literature And the counsels or
wise men and the influence of good friends
had no effect While in Richmond be had
been brought to penitence for the past, and
vowed reformation. He signed the pledge
and Joined temperance society to enable
him to resist his great foe, strong drink. He
attended by the best people in Richmond,
who reioiced at tue change and were full OF
hope. A lady whom he had long loved now
consented to an engagement and arrange
ments were made for the wedding. All his
friends were satisfied that the man had
changed, and meant to work and live
good life. Before the marriage took place
he had an invitation to Philadelphia for
all promised we'll But whilst staying for q
few minutes at Baltimore, O welLmeau-
ing friend persuaded him once more to
open the door to the demon who had
! blasted his life up to that hour,
but was now subdued. What induce
ments were used, what strong assever-
ations that one glass could do no harm
we're made, what jests at being milk-sop
fanaticism were indulged in, we cannot
tell. At length Poe just turned tho key in
the lock. He took q drink. There are
foolish persons who say they have no
sympathy with man who cannot take just
one glass or two perhaps, and stop there
No wise lover of his fellows will say that.
Some Of the very best men cannot. 1t 1s
often the finest brains that are driven
into insanity with few drops Of alcohol,
which speedily destroys the equilibrium Of
the system. as little snake poison will do.
Poe could not stop at one glass. At Havre
! de Grace he was found so disorderly that he
was taken back to Baltimore in the custody
of the conductor Of the Philadelphia train.
There he did what others have done-ran
riot in drink, completely mastered BY the
demon he had been foolish enough to set free.
In the course of few days he was taken to
the hospital in an insensible state. IN Sunday
morning, October 7, he awoke to conscious
ness "Where am II" he asked. A kind
hearted doctor who was by the bedside said:
"You are cared for by your best friends: "
| After pause Poe soiemnly replied:
my best friend would be the man
In ten minutes he was 2 corpse.
The next day he was inferred in the burial
ground Of Westminster Church, and
America lost one OF the most promising and
brilliant writers she ever possessed: What
became of tho friend who induced him to
take that drink at the Baltimore refresh
ment-room? What did he think Of it when
he learned the resuts' What will he think
of it in eternity9 II angels have any insight
into futurity, what must they have felt II
nermitted to witness at the refreshment bar!
Surely some demon sent thrill OF hellisn
ioy throughout the pit as it saw the man llf5
| The pIassl Oh, it is terrible to think what
brilliant light in English literature that glass
| nuanched And one is reminded OF certain
,55oet who lived many centuries previous,
who said, possibly seeing similar eyil IN his
| day: "INoe unto fim that giyeth ms nelgn'
bor drink"-J. Hunt Cooke, IN the free'
man.