The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-02-10
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE CASE OF JOHN SMITH.
A Statement in Full of the Cost Of One
Mans Drink.

A Statement In Full OF the Cost OF One
Mans Drink.
John Smith has wife and three
beautiful children. He is butcher by
trade, and, as he thoroughly under
stands the work, he might command
salary of at least $50 per month the
year round.
Naturally John Smith is an affection
ate husband, a kind father, a good pro-
wider and diligent workman. He
ought to be the head Of happy, COM
Portable home. But John Smith has
one very bad fault; he drinks intoxi-
eating liquors and has become a
drunkard. His wife is known as the
wife of drunkard, and when the play
mates of his children get angry they
taunt them with: "Your pas drunk.
ard"
Let us make statement of the case
of John Smith, the butcher, and learn,
as near as we can, what has been the
actual cost of his liquor bill
John Smith is now forty-ive years
old. At the age of twenty-five he was
discharged from position that COM
manded salary of $50 month, solely
on account of drunkenness, and from
that time to this he has had no steady
employment He works at his trade
between sprees for butchers, who,
knowing his failing and taking advan-
tage of it, pay him small wages and
treat him as they would not dare to if
he was sober man. From the time
of his first discharge until the present
day he has not averaged earning over
$50 per month. He might have had at
least $50 a month.
Item $50 each month for twenty
years, from loss of employment and
salary. Total, $1,000.
What liquor John Smith has drunk
he has had to pay for. On an average
his drinks have cost him twenty five
cents day mot high estimate) for
each day of the twenty-five years; OF
$3.50 per month
Item 2.-S7.5O each month for TWEEN.
ty-five years paid for liquor. Total
$1,S00.
Add item one to item two and VIC
have $1,000 as the price John Smith
the butcher, pays in hard cash for the
privilege of being drunkard during
twenty-five years of his working life.
John Smith at the age of twenty-fv
was strong, healthy, intelligent man
with constitution like iron. Now
when barely past the meridian of life
he is a trembling, bloated wreck 6
mental and physical ruin and stands
with one foot on the brink of a grave
more awful in its rayless hideousness
than the black depths of the bottom
less pit.
Item 3. Health and intelligence.
John Smith, the butcher, once hat
the love of his faithful wife, the affec
tions of his beautiful children and the
friendship and esteem of his neigh
bors Now his wife lives with hin
from a sense of duty. cherishing, it may
be, loving remem brance of the deaC
manhood of his youth, but not loving
him-no good woman could; his chill
dren fear, nay, almost hate him, be-
cause he has brought suffering ant
shame to the dear mother, and woes
innumerable and disgrace almost un
bearable into their young lives; his
neighbors look upon him as a drunken
sot a hopelessly ruined man, as one
better in the grave than out of it.
Item 4-Love of wife and children
and the friendship and respect o
neighbors.
Once John Smith held his head W
proudly and was not afraid to look any
man in the eye. Now he shamble'
along the street. with head bowed anC
bleared eyes bent upon the ground
He has lost his pride in self
Item 5.-Self-respect
John Smith was, naturally, domes
tic man. He loved his wife and chill
dren, had pleasant, comfortable HON,
and was always well clothed and wei
fed Now, he has lost his love fo
Mary and the little ones, lives in tum
bled down shanty, cares not how h,
looks, has little to eat and goes abou
a living synonym of wretchedness
Item 5.--Home's blessings and com
forts.
Let us summaries:
Itemized account of the cost of the
drink bill of John Smith, the butcher
Item Ito cash by loss of en-
ployment and salary for twenty
years, $500
Item 2.-To cash paid for liquor
during twenty years, 1,S0
Grand total cash cost of liquor
bill for twenty years, 5000
Item $40 twenty years Health an,
constant use of intoxi- Intelli
eating liquors, gence.
Item ito the bru- The love of wifi,
talizing influence and children ant
of liquor on the }the friendship
mind and body by and respect o
twenty years use, neighbors.
item 80 loss of pride
in self by twenty years
use of liquor, Self-respect
lem 6.-To poverty and
the degeneration of Homes bless
hSme and home intlu- ings and com
enSes by twenty years forts.
use of liquor,
In fSturn for all this, John Smith
the butcher, will live wretched life
die on a pauper's bed, and sleep in
drunkar6 ! grave Alvin Jovenil, il
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