The record-union., 1891-01-25
SAD BUT TRUE.
The WoefuI Story Of Good Young
Man and His Downfall.
A Bright Future Was Before Him,
But Now He is Lost
Forever.

He needed a shave. His hair was q
little fringy, too, and his clothes pro-
claimed him one of the gentry who had
seen better days. There was vacant
stare in his blood-shot eyes, and as he
anlbled into the bar-room of an uptown
hotel, many were the glances of pity that
were shed upon him.
But look at him! What's the matter
with him?
He had suddenly stopped in his sor-
rowful march, and now he stood trem-
bling violently with his bullying eyes
fastened upon the phonograph. Now his
hands seek nervously his trousers pocl1-
cts. They are withdrawn, empty, and
with a low moan he staggers toward the
door.
"What do you call that 30 asked the
drummer, who was leaning against the
bar taking "same as before" and who
had witnessed the strange actions of the
man.
"Fiend," laconically replied the bar
keep.
''Opium2'
''Nope; phonograph.''
Yes this poor creature was q phono-
graph fiend, and the woods are full of
more just like him. A few months ago
this unfortunate man was Junior partner
in tomale foundry, and had a bright
future before him. But one night he met
the photograph. His hand sought his
pocket, he produced a nickel, dropped it
into the slot, placed the fatal tubes to his
ears, drank in the Turing song OF the siren
and was lost.
When the wheels of the diabolical de-
vice ceased to buzz, he drew back with a
Il. Il .%.,l &,.x- I,.,k lNC
fiuttering bird that has become hypno-
tized by the festive serpent, he could not
. Again his hand sought his pocket.
"Can I trust myself" he whispered to
himself. Then, CHANGING about furtively,
to see if anybody was 'onto" him. he
grasped the tubes again, and parted COM
pany with his nickel, muttering huskily,
''I'll do it if die for it, Again did he
listen in rapture to the seductive strains
of ''Where Did You Get That HAITI" The
pupils of his eyes became dilated, the
muscles of his body were rigid, and for
the time he seemed transported into an
other world.
Then-zip!
The end had come again, and the VIC
tim looked about him as one just waking
from trance. Another nickel went into
the SLOT. Again was the young man en-
raptured. Then he reached for the fourth
nickel.
Soy, young Teller, can't yer give us a
whack at der fake?" asked veteran
card-shuffler, who had just stepped in,
nickel in hand.
Our friend was not yet SO utterly lost as
to give no thought to others. He gave
way to the newcomer, and walked out
into the street to collect himself.
But the fever was on him. His brain
was whirling and his heart was thuinp-
ing like trip-hammer. He was fast
losing all control of himself.
bt'I'll make a night of i'll am wildr' he
finally gasped, and away he went on his
first great orgie. He rushed up to an
other house of entertainment and en-
braced the photograph there. He
for three hours. Then he hurried back
to the first place, and then back again.
Poor fellow! Little sleep did he get
that night. The proprietors of both places
were deaf to his entreaties to be allowed
to remain after CLOSING up time" and he
was compelled to wait until morning. He
was up bright and early, though, and was
soon back again at the photograph, for
getting even to breakfast. He had his
money changed into nickels, and it melted
like frost in the sunshine. For days and
weeks every nickel he could beg, borrow
or steal was spent in wild and riotous
orgies at the fatal photograph, until
finally his mind and health gave way,
and he became wreck mentally and
physically-a driveling maniac.