The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
AN INCIDENT WITHOUT CONTENT.

A merchant of this city met an old &C
duaintancs recently on an elevated railway
train. In the course of conversation the
man told him that since they had last met, 3
few years previously, hs had passed through
a wonderful experience. he then told q
story. which we reproduce in the brieiess
possible form. .g
he had been member of the Produce E1-
change, and had been in good circumstances,
he fell into the habit OF drink, not because
he loved the taste OF liquor, but manla OF
thirst seemed to possess MIN, so that he often
drank from twenty to thirty times day.
he soon lost his business and drifted steadily
downward. His wife and children wers
forced to leave him. and he became utterly
discouraged, and was most OF his time IN
half drunken state. While in this condition
he chancsd one day to meet man he knew,
who was hard driuker like himself. After
some conversation this man proposed tnat
they should go to a certain mission to hear
the singing. they went. A woman attacneo
to the mission came and spoke kindly TO them
and invited them to remain; but they de.
cIined. The merchants FRIEND, however, felt
drawn to return the next night. he went
thereafter steadily every night for week to
tbe mission, feeling, he said, as though ne
could not stay away. Every night the faith.
full woman missionary would come and
sneak kindly to him and urge him to seek
salvation: but he always declined. One
night he felt as though he ought to MAKE an
effort to become man again. Whlle tnls
feeling was in bis heart though he was even
then in drunken state, she came to him as
msnal 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 bagan to pray for himself.
He was fully converted, and went to WORK,
in connection with the mission, to bring In
others and save them. From that moment
he says the desire for drink left hlm en-
tirely. Started once more in the right way,
he began to prosper. He notified his VIE
and children, and they came back TO hVe
with hir:, and now he is at the head OF
hsupy and comfortable home. He believes,
it is needless to say, most mplicltly In the
efficacy Of prayer. He believes he was lei,
half drunk though he was, by the Holy
-, Spirit to the neeting through d tine instru-
mentality of his drunken friend, and that
the same divine influence prompted MIN 20
return night altar night and finally to pray
for himselt.-New York Independent.
TEMPERANCE FOR RAILROAD MEN.
The officials of'at 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.
Move goes inside Of saloon while on duty
will cause his dismissal Tbs habits OF
men who apply for work are also to Do IN,
auired into and preference given to total
abstainers. Discharges of employees Tor
breaking the rule against the use OF lnt21i'
eating liquor have already followed tnis
stringent order from headquarters, and
heads Of departments are to be held respon-
sible for future enforcement of the reguia-
tion. The officers OF a railroad running out
of Cincinnati have been led to take similar
steps to enforce sobriety through an aecl-
!. dent caused by drunken engineer. The
conductor aud fireman lost their places 1or
not discovering the condition OF the engineer
/ and having him removed. and tne crussoe
against tippling employees OF the com pany
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 Tor tnelr
patrous. Good business management would
seem to require this. An unsteady mana at
the lever the dlmming OF the eyes tnat
keep a lockout from the cab window or
moment of misplaced ju igmenv may sacr.-
tice lives, destroy property, shak ke the con-
| tideuce OF travellers III the llue ana ultlmateiy
reducs dividends The brotherhood OF Loco
! motive Engineers, which, through the con-
| servatsm and character Of its leaders, has
| become one OF the most influential ana rs-
spected OF tabor unions, reco Enizes the nee IS
| sity OF sober and careful judgment IN Its
members and seeks to promote temperance
| aud intelligence among them. Consequently.
there are few finer bodies OF work,ngmeh
| than the American locomotive engineers.
few years ago a commotion was caused
among these men by movement in Massa-
chusetts and some other States to subject
engineers to the test of color blindness.
Temporary opposition melted away. how
| ever, before the apparent necessity. III these
! times of color signals, OF the engineer being
thoroughly capable of distinguishing those
signaIs.
II there ara people who complain OF rail
road company's rigidity in demanding sobri-
oty among the men it places in responsible
That in New York and some other States
| there are laws making it misdemeanor for
the company not to do this-'New YORK
Press.