Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-16
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
0 sam SMALL ON TIPPLINe.
The Temptations Which Constantly Assail
American Newspaper Writers.


American Newspaper Writers.
Upon the whole, +" said Rev. Sam w.
Small, formerly 'Old ST" of the Atlanta
Constitution, but now a famous evan
gelist and Temperance orator of the
Sam Jones type, to a reporter of the
Detroit Free Press, 'if there is any
excuse for intemperance on the part of
any class of men on Gods green foot
stool, the large crops of bright and en-
thusiastic American newspaper writer's
should come in for the full benefit of the
doubt. Only God and the members of
the profession are aware of the tempta-
ton to which such workers are sub
iected. l was for years one of them,
and feel qualified for speaking with
authority upon the subject. / think if
the recording angel ever drops a tear upon
his big book, as he is popularity credited
with doing upon frequent occasions. the
splotch is the biggest when one of these
poor newspaper fellows yields to temp
tations which are so constantly in his
path. The long series of years which /
put in as a member of the working news
paper fraternity are imprinted upon my
memory as are no other years of my
entire life. They were filled TO
overlooking with the fitful fever and ex-
element of rapid existence. / am now
we'll aware of the fact that what | then
called pleasure and enjoyment was based
upon hollow shams and unreality; but
1T was all very real and glittering to me
in the old days. The newspaper report
or N u Start Ont IN 4hn s.,ns-. -. -
the resolve to be true to his God and his
manhood all through the duties of the
day. He has not gone far, however, be-
fore he meets a man whose chief desire
is to get his name in the paper. This
individual links his Acknowledged
arm within that of the news-gatherer
and heads for the nearest saloon, simply
as a preliminary to what is to follow.
The reporter will probably offer some
sort of feeble resistance generally
did, unless l happened to be very thirsty
but it invariably fails to secure him
release from the web of temptation that
is closing about him. If the object is of
Importance, the tempter will
usually order a quart bottle of sparkling
champagne, of which he is careful that
his victim shall receive a little more
than half. The result can readily be
imagined. My poor head was seldom
proof against the fumes of champagne
even in the days Of my most constant
drinking.
This is q subject worthy OF the
prayerful consideration of all Christian
As l have learned to regard
ma tier since my reformation, /
unhesitatingly advise all news
paper workers to retain their sobriety
and moral respect. / was as bad as any
them in the old Atlanta Constitution
lays. So was Joel Chandler Harris
,"Uncle Remus'). Many and many a
lime have we drank a pint of whisky
apiece between supper time and the
hour for going to press. l have often
rome in TO my desk in the evening so
with drink hat | would have to
something firmly with both hands
o keep the room from swimming round
md splitting me overheard, and then
a couple Of columns or more,
With my poor head the size of a light
louise tower. Oh, / know all about it.
nd God knows! 1 have lots Of sym
for the newspaper boys. The me- I
hanic a go into his workshop in the
lorning and not be exposed to a single
emptation all day long, but it is all
cry different with the outside newspa- :
er worker. Harris swore off before l :
id, and neither of us touched a drop of /
ny thing intoxicating for years, but we :
wore off reportorial work on daily pa r
ers about the same time. My heart .
oes out to newspaper reporters, and l q
0 all in my power to lead them from n
dangerous paths into which they a
re so frequently called. The members y
the Detroit Light Infantry visited n
lr city during my drinking days, and n
aptain Dupont or any of the boys will :
; able to give a vivid description OF n
hat then was" :,
MI. Small had grown so earnest in his q
leme that he glanced entirely over the a
Of the gold-rimmed spectacles which
de astride Of his rather prominent 9,
while his long, slender fingers &
0rked nervously about the extremities :
his luxuriant, dropping, brown mus W
che. He is thin almost to attenua- n,
IN, but the imprint Of genius is "a
amped upon every feature. "a