Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-01

Ralph E. Hoyt, Of this city, writes
to the Chicago Sun anent a former we'll
known business man of this city:
About eleven years ago A. M. Rawson
of Chicago left that city and removed to
California. He was well known in the
business circles of Chicago, as for long
time he filled a responsible position in
the wholesale grocery house of Sprague,
Warner & Co. He located in Los
Angeles and opened grocery in the
center of trade. He rapidly built up
profitable business, accumulated prop
ertyiby successful real estate deals, and
became one of the prominent, inhuen-
tial business men of that place. But
unfortunately he was constantly in
dulging in "the flowing bowl'--a dam
gerous habit that grew on him steadily
until at last it drove him into absolute
insanity. Nine months ago he was ad-
judged insane and committed to the asy-
lum at Stockton. From that time till very
recently heard nothing concerning the
unfortunate man and | supposed he was
hopelessly insane. Imagine my sur
prise one evening last week when walk
ing on Market street to meet A. M. Raw
son. He seemed delighted to see me,
and upon entering into conversation
with him, soon became impressed with
the belief that he was perfectly sane
man. AS he desired to talk With me at
considerable length, we entered the
Baldwin hotel and sat down. Rawson
then calmly andquietly related the more
prominent incidents of his experience in
the Stockton asylum. He frankly ad-
mitted that liquor was the sole cause of
his mental alteration; that he sought
to have been in an asylum year sooner"
than he was and that so terrible had
been his thirst for liquor that there were
hours when, had the opportunity Offer
ed, he would have killed fellow being
brandy. But by the skillful treatment of
the physicians, and the Kindness shown
him by all the officials of the institution,
he fully recovered his mental equili-
brium, and with that recovery came his
complete disenthrallment from the
liquor fiend. II am now," said he, "a
new man. / am cured of that terrible
appetite forever, and nothing on earth
can ever induce me to again taste the
accursed stuff" He then informed me
that he had written book, the material
for which he had gathered while in the
asylum, but after he had been pro-
nounced cured. His mission in San
Francisco then was to make arrange
ments for the publication of his work.
His book is in the form OF story, but is
based largely upon the authors own ex-
perience and numerous incidents that
occurred in the Stockton asylum. His
object is to show that the use of intoxi-
cants is the chief cause of insanity. He
had the manuscript in his hands during
the interview, and read many portions
of it to me. As a mere literary
production it is quite unique in
style. Many portions of it are thrill
ingly interesting, and his description of
the delirium tremens is fairly blood
curdling. He showed me reviews of the
work from Oakland papers, the writer's
having heard public readings of it in
that city. They predicted that the
book would create sensation through
out the entire land. and l am inclined
to think so, too. Rawson has since re-
turned to Stockton, where he will put
the finishing touches on his book and
then place it in the hands of pub
Usher. He urged me to visit him at
Stockton and be his guest, promising
that should be we'll cared for and have
a chance to see and learn many inter
esting things. Perhaps may go-after
/ become insane For the present am
content to take Mr.. Rawson's word con-
cerning the attractions of the institution
without any practical experience of my
Own