The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-11
WAY BAGsEY DRINKS DREos.
Bis Pitiful Story Of How Temperance
Made Elm a Bum.


Made Elm a Bum.
From the Netc York Commercial Advertiser
Pensively resting against a post on the
sunny side of Chatham square yesterday
was an old man dressed in the shabbiest
ulster that ever escaped the hook of the
rag-picker. There would have been moth
ing remarkable or conspicuous about this
old, gray-headed, shaggy-beerded Tounder
had It not been for the fact that he wore on
his breast large knot OF blue ribbon, like
that usually carried by a newly pledged
member OF a temperance union.
Except for its crust of dirt, it was out Of
keeping with the rest Of his costume that
passersby turned to look at him. The list
less horde of shabby Boweryites only con-
sidered him one of the great army of
cranks. but there was look of misery
in his blue eye that induced a newspaper
man to approach him and inquire what his
decoration meant and why he wore it.
Young man." he replied, solemnly, "be-
hold in me the evil effects OF temperance"
"Of wha-a>a t" gasped the astonished in
terlooutor.
"Of temperance" solemnly asseverated
the old man. IF you will stand the price
Of ball will tell you"
The hostelry was speedily found, and the
drink was ladled out by the barkeeper. The
aged bum swallowed without coughing or
winking. tumbler Of fiery whisky, and
then spoke:
"You want to know why wear this
ridiculous ribbon and still drink this soul
killing stuff. Well, then. | say that am
victim Of temperance. looked upon the
wine when it was both read and white IN
my youth. was graduated at one of the
big colleges, and, emerging with honors, l
saw my future bright before me- / was not
wealthy. and to earn my livelihood got
position on q newspaper in the city Of the
third size. it matters not where. | soon
| made name for myself. l made many ac-
| quaintances, and was a good newsRatherer.
Being of convivial turn, could always
! adapt myself to the company in which
might chance TO be brown. l could get
| news of the sporting, political and every
day world that other reporters could not
get, aud l speak truthfully when | say that
most Of it was gotten over the wine cup, and
in gatherings where was one of the boys
| married, and my young wife. whom
loved dearly, was extremely anxious that I
should take the pledge. l did SO.
II was making all the money / needed,
and thought that might get along without
some of the old companions who were my
sources Of information. / Joined the blue
ribbon brigade aud exhibited this badge
with pride to my wife. Well, the story is a
short one. In going my daily rounds for
bno ASWS uaoQ W Din away kEOH1 ING b6-
looms and Stunned the gambling houses and
poolrooms. stuck 20 temperance prInci-
Piles and refused to go around where temp
tation was
"What was the RESULT My friends
laughed at me at first, tolerated me next,
and finally began to call me prig and to
turn up their noses at me. There is no use
in talking, young man; if you want to get
good piece OF political news out Of a ward
politician you have to take a drink
with him. Pretty soon got 'scooped' on
some big stories and lost my place. l
stoutly stuck to my principles and drifted
around doing space work; but IL was no 60.
l wasn't in it any more.
"Then saw the evil effects of temperate,
and moved TO another town and began to
drink l drank too much in little while,
and after some years l drank myself down
here into the Bowery-ahl well-pardon me
a moment"
He ceased and turned away, as If to wipe
tear from his eye with his villainous cuff,
while the reporter listened to the soft COO
ing OF an elevated train overhead. Then as
he was about to resume he heard, in a stage
whisper, the barkeeper's remark:
"Bagsey's got on to a new mug. Don't
say a word, on yer life."
Then the chestnut bell knelled and the
echoes reverberated in the dim recesses of
Doyer street.