Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-03-14

~
will be a Bible reading.
Righteousness exalteth a nation, but
SIN is q reproach to any people. Prov.
NEAL Dow--THE GRAND OLD MAN OF
PROHIBITION.
Neal Dow was born March 20, 1904,
i'll Portland Me. Before he was thirty
years old something happened that
made him more than a nan who did
not himself drink; it made him a man
who was determined that no one else
should drink if he could possibly help
1t. He had a friend in the city of Port
land who was a very smart nan and
occupied a Government position; but
he used to have periods of drinking,
n getting so that he could not attend
to business. One evening the wife of
this gentleman came in great distress
to Mr.. Dow, and asked him if he would
go after her husband, who was even
then in a certain saloon, and persuade
him not to drink any more; for if he
did, he would lose his position on the
next day.
MIR. Dow went TO the saloon and asked
the proprietor not to sell this gentleman
any more liquor. "Why Mr. Dow" he
said u must supply my customers. -
MIR. Dow explained that in this case
the gentleman had a large family who
would suffer if he lost his position.
Then the saloon keeper became angry
and said he had a family to support
toe, and he proposed to do it and when
he wanted advice he would ask for it.
Moreover he had a license to sell liquor
and he would like to see theSman that
could stop him. $50 you have a license
to sell liquor? said Mr.. Dow, land you
support your family" by impoverishing
others. With Gods help I'll change
all this. He went home fully deter
mined to devote his life to suppressing
the liquor traffic. 1.-THE Maine Law
says he, originated in that rum shop.
All the rest of his life he has labored
in the cause of Temperance, visiting
the different places in the State of
Maine, lecturing on the evils of intern.
perance, paying out of his W pocket
for other lectures and speakers, dis
tributing tracts and stirring up matters
generally.
In 1851 he drew up the ''Act for the
suppression of drinking houses and
tipping shops" and on June 81 of the
same year it was signed and became
what is known the world over as the
Maine Law" Although he is ninety
years old, yet he is so strong and hearty
that you would hardly take him for
seventy. He rises every morning at
five in summer, and six in winter, and
takes a long walk before breakfast.
coming back as fresh and hale as if he
were nineteen instead of ninety. After
his breakfast, which is always a light
one, he goes to his study and spends at
least half the day in working for the
temperance cause and the prohibition
party. He has a very fine library of
many thousands of volumes.
The Pine Tree State proudly wears
the laurels of poetry, of art, of philan-
throphy and of craftsmanship won by
Its illustrious sons and daughters; but
no n of them all has given to it a
better right to the motto emblazoned
on its shield-"Dirigo," l lead-than
the man on whose honored head rests.
ike a crown of glory, his ninety years
OF pure living and loyal serving.
A total abstainer from his youth, he
fought and won his first battle for ten
perance at the age of twenty one, in
opposing the admission of a rumseller
to membership in the Maine Charita-
BILE Mechanic Association.
The s%ingleness of aim with which he
has labored has not only given to him
the title, Father of the Maine Law"
but has made him a conspicuous figure
before our nation for a large part of
this marvellous century.
What of the child? Though he was born
AL daybreak in the century's morn,
he lives to see its wheeling sun
Descend upon a victory won
For the round world. The golden light
About his head has changed to white,
And, like a "crown of glory" now
Rests on the Grand Old Man-Neal Dow
Selected.