The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-18
STRIKING LETTER
10 THE VICTIMS OF STRONG DRINK
Mr.. r. B. Boone, Who Was Himself One of
the Unfortunatss, Writes Beautifully
for the Good OF Others,
Correspondence Richmond Tlmes.l

Durham, n. c., Sept. II.
/ desire through your columns to adj
dress those unfortunate members of so
eiety, both men and women, who are the
victims of strong drink and morphine.
write solely from a sense of duty, having
no pecuniary interest whatever in the
matter in hand.
| have been one Of the unfortunates
above mentioned, and appreciate keenly
all the struggles, trials, sorrows and re-
morse which constantly attend their
pathway through life. To be afraid Of
others, or to be afraid of the dark is to
suffer temporary disquietude, but to be
constantly afraid Of oneself is a lifetime
Of torture. A man may be ashamed of
the course which produces such an effect,
but surely no man or woman can be
ashamed 10 remove such cause.
| spent four weeks at the Keely lnsti-
tute Greensboro, y. c., and was treated
for periodical drinking. met while there
men Of the highest honor, integrity and
Intellectual attsinments, and women, on
whose purity and virtue l would stake
my last dollar.
Il
to new creatures, rejoicing together IN
the hope of that liberty which their own
inner conscience told them was nigh. l
tell you the sight, it seems 10 me, would
inspire even a. lost soul, suffering human
ity being transformed and fully conscious
Of it, What else could be expected but
a common rejoicing? The officers IN
charge. as well as the physicians at the
head of the institute, arc men who have
themselves received the treatment, and
hence understand and appreciate the ne
cesSties of the patients. DR.. Durham,
always kind and gentle, is the very type
Of all that goes to make the name OF
father dear. and no patient ever left the
institute who did not carry away feel
ing of the strongest affection for him. lie
is not only a righteous, but a good man,
such as the Scriptures refer to.
DR.. Wrenn the other physician, by his
affabe and pleasant manners, inspires
you at once with perfect confidence. The
attendants are attentive and gentlemanly,
and everything is done to please and ben
cit the patients. Even the citizens OF
that delightful little city vie with each
other in saying kind things 80 the patients
and encouraging them In their ehort 10
be- cured Of the awful disease. Every pa
tient who goes 20 ills institute desiring
is certain TO obtain the desired end.
PHYSICIANS and others may speak dispar-
agingly of the treatment. but this know
that in nv case and others thar | know
the cure has been perfect. 1t restores
the nervous system TO its normal cOndl-
ton. hence there Is no demand for slim
ulant Sloep comes as TO an infant, nat-
ural and refreshing.
| am absolutely satisfied that all de-
mands for stmulant are eradlcated
now and forever from my system. feel
like a man made over again. With the
frailties and imperfections left out OF the
composition. ! can now go forth IN the
world to do its duties and fight it's battles,
for have no longer in myself the enemy
which kent me afraid The man who Is
constantly lighting himself is scarcely
able to successfully battle with outside
foes. For years l have been in a state
of warfare with myself day and night,
and the consciousness that this warfare
is at an end gives me infinite pleasure.
All nature seems to take on lovelier form,
and my environments, which before seem
ed dark and gloomy, have now an aspect
of brightness never discovered before.
Indeed, clouds which hung low and dark
around me before my cure are now dissl-
pated as the mist before the morning sun.
i
evening wild with delirium tremens. and
at o o'clock the next morning sitting qui-
ely in the club-room reading a newspa-
per, transformed like the "DemOniac OF
Gadara," and clothed in his right mind.
No man whose experience has not
taught him can even conjecture the power
which binds the man who has within him
this fierce appetite for strong drink.
When the appetite comes it is as irreSist-
ible as cyclone. | have often thought
when my sober friend were demonstrating
with me, and utterly unable to under
stand the mysterious power that con-
trOlled me, that it was cruel beyond meas
ure TO censure a man for condition
which he could in no wise prevent, and l
have exclaimed:
$50 horrible! Oh! never mayest thou see
What here lies hid from all but hell and
me-"
Of the appetite it may be said:
Grant to man this GROWING curse,
And keep him what he is, no hell were
worse"
No man who has any of the milk OF
human kindness" not to say the spirit OF
our blessed Master, in his heart ought or
can refuse to help those who desire TO be
rid of this awful curse in any way when
he may.
/ have seen men and women cured OF
the morphine and opium habit, who Tor
years and years had almost dreamed the
time. as well as their souls and bodies
away | have seen them leave the lnsu-
tute with new light in their eyes, re-
joicing in the sure hope of everlasting
freedom.
Philanthropists have left large sums Tor
educational purposes and other charities
but the man who will lay up
the greatest treasure where, moth
and rust doth not corrupt VIII
be the man who creates fund for
the purpose Of treating such unfortunate
men and women as are unable TO pay
their own expenses.
In conclusion desire again to say that
] have no pecuniary interest in any hee-
~ institute. nor does any pecunlary IN
tereSt result 10 me for writing this letter.
but it is mt my own suggestion, for the
purpose of pointing others to the fountain
where | have tasted and been healed,
that they may 60 and do likewise. IL IS
only the strongest sense of duty which
could prompt me to give publicity to my
unfortunate inner life.
Il. b. BOONE.
--------------