Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-09-15

dear and honorable in this world float
into the mammoth grist mill of intem-
perance. If you can sift any matter
from a few incidents of my life. 1t is
true.
l am the ordinary mechanics wife
of nearly 80 years standing, l never in
my life drank a glass of Intoxicating
drink or liquor. My husband is a first
class mechanic, an engineer. Six years
ago he held an excellent position in one
of our largest oil industries. He went
off ON a periodical spree. AT such times
he is perfectly dcmoralizcd and reckless.
Days passed and in his department at
the factory many were laid off because
the engineer was absent. The superin-
tendent came to our home and said I'M
less he sobered up and attended to bust
ness we must look for his discharge.
He advised me to visit my husbands
haunts and forbid the rumsellers to
keep him in this irresponsible state. l
took my two youngest boys and started
on this humilating errand, to ask the
rumsellers the privilege of living.
The first saloon keeper before whom
l laid my case and duplication said
my plea must be entered as a protest in
my W writing, and when Mr.. -
called for whisky he would lay my
document on the bar instead of the
whisky. At other times my protest
must be set up in public sight behind
the bar. l said "do you know what
such a document would mean to me?"
He answered, mol said, "it would
mean my death warrant" as il would.
He replied this was the best he could
do.
The next place I knocked at a young
man having only one arm answered.
He was polite and regretted he had done
me an injury; said he blushed when
frequent appeals such as mine came
before him. We rarely thank God for
a manned limb, but l did feel glad one
arm was lacking with which to poison
the public.
My next venture sent a tremor over
me at the mere recollection. Coming
along home again I stopped at the third
place, Avenue D, ear -, knocked
very timidly, for the keeper was a great
rough, f%orbidding looking brute. l
said please, sir, do not sell my husband
any more liquor or my boys and l will
be paupers this winter" He asked my
husbands name. 1 told him. He re-
piled that he did not know such a man.
l said, perhaps not, but as l was max
ing a tour of all the rum holes | had
stopped at his as well, rum holesl" he
Numbered, this is no rum hole, ma'am,
but a respectable licensed saloon,
ma'am, as decent and respectable as
your own house."
20, no, indeed" said l; mot as re,
spectacle as my own home, for that is
a very sacred place and not a place
where thieves and murderous are manu-
featured"
Fatal words! He raised a powerful
arm and fist and struck me a stunning
blow on my left breast, and l fell back
ward on the pavement. Between the
blow and fall | was senseless. My boys
screamed. A crowd gathered. He the
licensed saloon man explained II came
there drunk and wanted more liquor >
and he was only protecting his very
respectable licensed saloon. A man
who raised me said, -, you are
mistaken. This woman may be heart.
scalded, but she is a black Prohibition.
ist." was carried home q very bruised
woman. My doctors certificate said
severe confusion on head and back.
This man was locked up, bailed out in
a few hours. The case was carried be.
fore the grand jury in Jersey City. This
man sent a friend to me while we were
awaiting our case and tried to com
promise, but trusting to the justice OF
my country as q birthright. l treated
the offer with contempt. To my utter
establishment a court officer came ia
me and quietly said my case had been
thrown over and should have been
settled as a petty offense. AS l passed
from the court room Mr.. - raised
his hat in mock respect, and l realized
how puny were my small efforts against
the barons in the liquor business.
Years back, from money allowed me
for household expense, l save money
and bought two small lots hoping some
day to own a small home. To meet the
payments on these lots every sacrifice
must be made. My chickens, milk,
eggs, etc., must all be turned into the
coveted dollar that was to pay for the
cosey nest l had in mind. The BOYS
never knew the confinement of a shoe
in those days, and turning old coats
and trousers became with me one of the
fine arts. 1 learned a thorough lesson
at that time, that necessity is the mother
of invention. The opposing side of the
house laid every obstacle in my way,
but my perseverance ended in my final
ownership of two small lots. The