The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-04-20
A TERRIBLE WARNING.

From Drink.
Mrs Lawson is a loving wife, a true
mother and a warm-hearted friend. A
motherless girl, she grew up where
dancing and card playing were the only
pleasures she shared with people who
did not consider wine or beer drink. v
She frequently saw the guests of her
guardian foolishly funny" By their
standard no one was drunk who could
walk or talk straight She did not
choose her Surroundings What child
does? To her violence was the only
sure indication of reprehensible drunk.
enness. BY her standard she was a
temperance woman. Her husband, a
man of large brain and warm heart
held similar ideas
Fred, the son, was q handsome boy OF
good temper and more than ordinary
ability. They boarded at good house
in pleasant part of Chicago Mrs
Lawson had many friends among the
boarders, because in the most uncon-
ventional way she made the parlor
cheerful with dancing and card playing
in which all could participate-her
husband being always present and her
son at her side
The young gentlemen in the parlor
frequently supplied beer or wine to the
entertainment, and Fred commonly re-
GREETED to go to bed when they all
seemed to feel the best and said the
funniest things Ered's aunt some.
times came into the parlor but never
said much. Fred knew with some dis
like that she was prohibitionist, yet
was fond of her when she helped him
in lessons and read Uncle Remus,"
with his cute advice to boys The card
playing increased until it ran into Sun
day. Fred enjoyed the funny things
the young men said when he came in
from Sunday-school; he felt as if he
had missed a great deal in going to
church.
On Sunday some visitors came TO
spend the afternoon. When Aunt
Louise returned from church she was
surprised to see both cards and wine on
the table.
Why, Aunt Louise, you do not call
wine drink do you?"
1T is for me" said Miss Louise. who
sat thinking about il until she heard a
noise of scuffiing. She stepped to her
door and saw in theolower hall a tall,
strong man with his coat off, raging as
only an insanely drunken man can
Others were standing near; they said:
do not go down. The way he is now
he will shoot woman as quick as q
man. Listen.'
The madman called to Mrs Lawson
to open the door. He threw his weight
against it until the hinges creaked;
he shouted, Il will give you until l
count three. one-two-three. There
was a crash, flash and silence.
Miss Louise went down to her niece's
door, raped and entered, TO find two
or three excited men and as many
frightened women. Mrs Lawson had
Fred in her arms Three feet from the
floor in the door-panel was bullet
hole; through the center of Fred's pill
low was another and a pale girl showed
the spent bullet that had lodged in her
sleeve.
Then came broken explanations to
which Miss Louise added some remarks
on prohibition; several gave hearty as
sent, the first she had heard from that
company. The visitors had kept Mrs
Lawson out OF the house parlor. The
young men there had found it dull and
had gone - billiard parlor for quiet
game" Mr.. Hand and his roommate
Rod" with a friend" came in about
eleven o'clock. Mr.. Rods report was
H., .ef-
straight" lie said this so severely
that all understood he never did that
however much wine or beer he took
crooked Mr. Rod had been with Mr.
Hand all the time: knew how many he
e. had treated and how much money ne
had spent; but here the friend" was
Obliged 10 take up the story. In their
room Mr. Hand demanded that Rod
should give up something in his pocket
Mr.. Rod. who was much confused. did
not comply. Mr.. Hand sprang upon
him-'in fun"-and fairly thrashed the
rioor with his small friend, pounding
his face so fiercely and so swiftly that
there was no chance for self-defense.
The friend" ran 20 Mr. Lawson for
help He came up quickly, took Mr..
Rod from Mr. Hand and went back 10
his room, having received several hard
blows himself
A policeman was summoned He came
very reluctantly and went away Crowl-
ing. He had interviewed Mr.. Hand at
the door OF his room. pistol in hand,
but had been assured TO his satisfaction
that everything was quiet. Each had
told his story and the company was
about 70 disperse when second report
rang through the house Mr.. Hand
was again stamping from room TO
room, calling out the names OF the nice
Young men with whom he had spent
so much OF his time at quiet games"
and harmless drinks"
Mr. Lawson raised the street window.
Fred cried out. Papa must Tot leave
us.- bat Ms father had already flung
himself out on the ledge Of the second
story. ne hung from The door Gaping,
dropped 70 the other stair, and was
gone. 70 return in time with TWO officers
and lei-abor.
The officers were enveloped IN in
cre5u-itv and abouuGe6 in judicial re-
proofs 10 the women for getting lex