The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-02-22
AN INCIDENT WITHOUT COMMENT.

A merchant of this city met au old ac-
qualntance recently on an elevated railway
train. In the course of conversation the
man told him that since they had last met, a
few years previously, he had passed through
a wonderful experience. He then told a
story which we reproduce in the briefest
possible form.
He had been a member of the produces Ex-
change, and had been in good circumstances
He fell into the habit OF drink, not because
he loved the taste of liquor, but a mania OF
thirst seemed to possess MIN, so that he often
drank from twenty to thirty times a day.
He soon lost his business, aud driftsd steadily
downward. His wife and children were
forced to leave him, aud he became utterly
discouraged, and was most of his time in a
half drunken state. While in this condition
he CHANGED one day to meet a man he knew,
who was a hard drinker like himself. After
some conversation this man proposed that
they should go to a certain mission to hear
the singing. They went. A woman attached
to the mission came and spoke kindly to them
and invited them to remain; but they de.
clined. The merchants friend, however, felt
drawn to return the next night He went
thereafter steadily every night for a week to
TIE mission, feeling, he said, as though he
could not stay away. Every night the faith.
tut woman missionary would come and
speak kindly to him and urge hin to seek
salvation; but he always declined. One
ulEub uc ltlb Us lupuRu ne Oukub 70 mahe uu
effort TO become a man again.. While this
feeling was in his heart, though he was even
then in a drunken state, she came to him as
usual and invited him to go forward. He
got no at once and went with her. Before
he knew what he was doing, he was kneel-
ing at the altar, and she was praying for
him, and then he began to pray for himself.
He was fully converted, aud went to work,
in connection with the mission, to bring in
Others and ave them. From that moment,
he says, the desire for drink left him en-
tirely. Started once more in the right way,
he began TO prosper. He notified his wife
and children, and they came back to live
with him, and now he is at the head OF a
happy and comfortable home. He believes,
it is needless to say, most implicitly in the
efficacy of prayer. He believes he was led,
half drunk though he was, by the Holy
Spirit TO the meeting through the instru-
mentality of his drunken friend, aud that
the same divine influence prompted him 10
return night after night and finally to pray
for himself.-New YORK independents
TEMPERANCE FOR MEN.
The officials orat least two railroad COM
panies in this country have recently taken
occasion TO enforce strict regulations against
the employment of drinking men. On the
Long Island Railroad proof that an em.
ploye goes inside of a saloon while on duty
will cause his dismissal. The habits Of
men ~ 1RNhN VI ~ 0ao W 10 AZ
quired into and preference given TO total
abstainers. Discharges Of employees for
breaking the rule against the use OF int0xi-
eating liquor have already followed this
stringent order from headquarters, and
heads of departments are to be held respon-
sible for future enforcement of the regula-
ton. The officers of a railroad running out
of Cincinnati have been led TO take similar
steps to enforce sobrtety through an acci-
dent caused by a drunken engineer. The
conductor aud fireman lost their places for
not discovering the condition of the engineer
and having him removed. and the crusade
against tippling employees OF the company
has already led TO an unusual number OF dis
charges.
An accident should not be needed, how.
ever, to arouse a railroads officers TO the
necessity of greater security for their
patrons. Good business management would
seem TO require this. An unsteady hand at
the lever, the Cumming of the eyes that
keep a lockout from the cab window or a
moment of misplaced judgment may sacri-
dee lives, destroy property, shake the con-
tidence of travellers in the line and ultimately
reduce dividends. The Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, which, through the con.
servatism and character of its leaders, has
become one of the most influential and re-
spected OF labor unions, recognizes the neces-
sity of sober and careful judgment in its
member and seeks to promote temperance
and intelligence among them. Consequently,
there are few finer bodies Of worklngmen
than the American locomotive engineers. A
few years ago a commotion was caused
among these men by a movement in Massa-
chusstts and some other States to subject
engineers TO the test Of color blindness.
Temporary opposition melted way, how
ever, before ths apparent necessity, in these
times of color signals, of the engineer being
thoroughly capable Of distinguishing those
signals.
Ii there are people who complain of a rail
road company's rigidity in demanding sobri-
ETY. among the men it places in responsible
positions, they will be interested TO Know
that in New York and some other State;
there are laws making it a misdemeanor for
the company not 70 do this. York
Press.