Blue-grass blade., 1892-02-20
THE STORY or A DRUNKARD.
Business Prospects, Friends, Everytkin
Fell Before the Liquor Habit.

Business Prospects, Friends, Everything
Fell Before the Liquor Habit.
This man of whom l write, Reuben
Johnson-"Uncle Rube'' he is familiarly
called by those who know him, and they
are legion-was a drunkard for forty
years. To see him now one would not
believe that he had been a slave to
liquor. He is threescore years and ten,
and his hair is whitened. but his eye is
bright, his skin clear, his step elastic
and he is in full possession of all his
faculties.
"Uncle Rube" was on his last legs
when he was converted year ago at
the Water Street McAuley mission. Sit
ting on bench in the Stanwix lodging
house, at Third avenue and Sixty-fifth
street. where he is employed, Reuben
johnson told me yesterday the story of
his life's struggle with the demon drink.
Il was born,' he said, ''in 1921. When
fourteen years old found employment
as fly boy in a newspaper Office at Wall
and Water streets.
Every time | changed my employ
ment," said Uncle Rube," ''it was for
the better. and another year found me a
feeder in the pressroom of prominent
morning newspaper. l was of a social
disposition, and soon learned to take a
glass of beer now and then with the men
on pay day. would also take an occa-
sional glass Of gin. but did not form
the drinking habit.
GAS my wages increased drank more
frequently, but l never dreamed that
might some day become slave to the
habit. At thirty l married. A few
years later lost my mother and soon
afterward my wife died.
"While my wife was living" said the
convert, 81 would indulge in an occa-
sional glass, but l never got tipsy. l
could endure physical suffering, but
mental anguish made me coward. /
went to rum for solace.
"Twas one of the six pressmen selected
in May, 1856, to take the Hoe pioneer
press to London and set it up in the Of
fee of Lloyd's Weekly.
"By this time" said "Uncle Rube, !"
''the drink habit had enslaved me. l
drank steadily now. Before long l lost
my employment. That was fifteen years
ago, and the situation was forced to
give up was the last l held in the print
ing business.
"In the hope of being cured of the ter
rible habit | went to an inebriate asy-
lum. There was no reforming or Chris
tianiziug influence about the place, and
when z left my thirst for liquor was as
strong as when entered. For years ]
lived the life of drunken sot. Twas
well known to the printing fraternity.
When came around to the offices where
my former mates were at work they
knew what | wanted, and without my
asking would toss coins to me. Even
when hungry l would spend my last cent
for drink.
Five years ago." he continued, 81
went to the McAuley mission and asked
to be taken in. Kindly hands received
me and | was made welcome. man.
aged to keep sober for several days, and
was looked upon as a convert, but my
appetite for drink overpowered me and
again fell from grace. The day left
the mission started to live over again
my life in the gutter. After a year or
so of drunken misery and wretchedness
tried the mission a second time in the
hope of reformation, but the effort was
unsuccessful and went back to my old
habits.
"The appetite remained strong within
me, but never lost faith in the mission
and looked upon it as harbOr that
would shelter me if l could only con-
quer my enemy. A year ago l applied
to the mission for a nights lodging
The prayers, the hymns and the ad-
dresses SO wrought upon me that again
l was led to hope that might be saved
81 prayed to Jesus to help me-" said
Rube, land my prayer was answered
am Christian now and the old appe.
tite for drink is gone. The people con,
nected with the mission cannot be hon
ored too much. was as low as a
man can be. was debased with sell
inflicted wretchedness and rum was
the factor of it. have now something
that sustains-that satisfies me, and the
result is contentment. New York Her
aid.