Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-07
JOHN BARLEY CORN
An Interesting story From Real
Life.
YESTERDAY, TO-DAY AND TOMORROW
The Experiences OF Young Grand
Rapids Man, as Related by
Commercial Tourist A
Familiar Case.

"Boys, how would you like me to
tell you . little tale Of real life. . story
whose characters are alive today and
living only few hours ride from here.
. happy contented little family The
speaker was one Of . number of sty-
hsbly alfred men that recently formed
a little party IN the rotunda OF the Rus
sci. house, Detroit. The cAsual oo-
server would know they we're body
Of commercial men, 80 something about
their aeti0u aud dress showed II.
liz was one OF those bitter cold nights.
Snow Mas rapidly covering the house
tops and streets with q mantel OF white.
These gentlemen, VINO are At one place
one day. then another, were assembled
about the fireplace cracking jokes and
smoking fragrant cigars. They we're
passing the evening, and happiness
seemed 10 reign supreme The speaker
hgnted a fresh cigar, and as ne ut
tered the words quoted above, he set
tied back IN hIs char, apparently At
rest with the worlc. The thought
ful, serious expression on his
face effected as listeners. They
soberec up and with one accord granted
nm PERMISSION TO proceed with his
narrative. 'Nsli, boys. | nave been
travelling this state for over ten years,
and during al that tune l never net a
more hospitable or congeniai LOT OF
peopls than at Grand Rapids 4 am
always glad 10 get there and sorry To
leave. some years ago | met fellow
tnere that WAS a splendid companion,
a hail fellow well met, and decidedly
brilliant and intellectual. HIS parents
sf,<.r inf ~ ~
world was enviable. Everyone seemed
20 like MN. everybody had pleasant
word for HIM he WAS young, held re-
soonaDle position and did not seem 10
have one care. / met MIN Ia the corridor
OF sweets hotel. . mutual friend intro
duced Us. l am sorry to confess II,
boys. but that night we got glorlously
intoxicated. l will not tell you what
happened, tho scenes we saw IN the
grog shops, the companions we asso-
Grated with during our nights carousal.
sac him home. or At least our hackman
did, and the next day / left for Sagi-
nav. I thought little Of the affair
and soon after forgot all about II. l
had gwen HIM . business card and one
day while with the house in New York
. letter was handed to me by the
cashier. II WAS from my Grand Rap
ids friend. IL WAS an interesting epistle
and We struck up . correspondence.
Time passed and ore day l received an
announcement card of his marriage.
His letter accompanying it was full of
hope. of happiness aud of bright pros
pects. HIS firm was 90 give him q
partnership IN business and he seemed
TO boil over with enthusiasm on his
approaching marriage. In year l
was in Grand Rapids, / had written
Jack my date of coming and | was
looking forward with pleasurable an
tlcipations TO congratulatlng what
hoped would be happy couple. He
did not call on me after my arrival.
thought IL strange and marvelled more
when I now realized that each letter
he had written me was less bouyant,
less encouraging than the preceding
one. Juss before leaving the city l
went to his place Of business and was
informed that he had been
discharged . month before and
that his stock IN the concern
had been bought in. cannot tell you
now surprised was to learn this news.
| ascertained where he lived and went
TO his residence. A lovely aaxen
haired young lady came TO the door.
Boys, tell you she was rs handsome
"a a doll Her dress was old and
shabby, yet she was personification of
ueatness and cleanliness. II WAS his
wife. I asked for Jack, and when she
looked a. my card, she flushed up, her
pretty lips began TO quiver and / saw
one or two tears steal out from beneath
her eye lasnes. i knew something was
wrong; what II was, though, l could
not tell. Dearth and desolatlon was
seen on all sides ia the rooms. She
led mo 10 their sleeping apartment and
on the bed lay Jack sleeping OFT the
effects of protrsctsd spree. He was
q miserable looking object, uncouth
aud attired in clothing that was soIled.
frs face was bsoated and red, his beard
long and uneven. Fellows, he was IN
deed miserabls looking object.
I turned to bis wife, | I'M
derstood all For the love of
drink he had sacrificed home.
wife. business and all. / left the
house and went % the hotel. | was all
broken up and knew not what TO do.
I kept going TO Grand Rapids and
once OF twice attempted to locate Jack,
bit could not. Finally the case
dropped out OF my mind.
A few weeks ago | was in Grand
Rapids one afternoon ! was standing
at TIE Sweets hotel corner waiting for
a csr. bad just no cigar and was
thinking OF the splendid business | did
that dag. just ~ my car came s.Ong,
someone slapped me on my back, and
turning around 1 saw Jack, my old
freud. Boys, was surprised, and let
the car so by. Ono OF the hsppiest
appearing fellows 1 ever saw. was my
friend. Hs eyes we're clear and
bright, his face smooth, and az held
nis hand ! observed II was steady. H.
wearing apparel was neat AID stylish.
and prosperity seemed 20 smile on him.
AT FIRST l could not utter = word.
then cried out, We'll. II
4 isn't my Old old friend
Jack-s'ah. boys, won't tell his name
fer nis fsmIly,s uke. lie told me
all. be srofe % his awful bght with
JOHN Bsf sycorn. aud * that enemy's
hna victory. Tie referred 20 the depths
~ depths ot degradation no hsd pulled
his Family auwn, ere sorrow and de-
spair ~ hs wife. afui : Sell You. Eel
love. ; acfas iY p.tiei hlm. .hen MS
face trig lt~net up 80 he ssid. Well.
, ola nian. tsst ~ al ever nov. see, ny
nsn8 ~ sdv. my eyes clear and An
rappT. or. ~ nappT. Agnes stack 10
ne. anf today nat one sDeck dsrkens
cur borix0u. l0l AK tue cause of ms