The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-05-02

possessor of a liberal education ana
fitted to fill responsible position in
the business world. As before told
you, l acquired deep love for drawing
and painting, for which | am now truly
thankful, for the only real pleasure I
now derive from life find amid these
western solitudes with my sketch book
and pencils.
when my education was completed
my good aunt supplied me literally with
money, and in her solicitude for my
pleasure and enjoyment paid little at
tention to my moral training. was
of lively, fun-loving disposition, and
in choosing my companions | selected
kindred spirits who would join me in
any wild lark that promised sport.
zone night at banquet given in hon
or of the birthday Of young lady friend
of my aunt | listened to the smiling
entreaties of the fair hostess to drink
her health, and accepted from her hand
my first glass of wine. All! Miss San
ford, the first downward step toward
the depths of drunken degradation is
often taken at the invitation of
thoughtless fair woman with glass of
sparkling wine in her jeweled hand,
when she little dreams that what she re-
CARDS as but trifling act of hospitality
is the seal of doom upon a life that might
otherwise be bright and useful. The
wine seemed to flood my soul with it's
rosy warmth and to quicken my senses,
and other draughts of the ruby liquid fol-
lowed until was taken home in car
riage supported in my aunt's arms, in
state of stupid intoxication.
when came down from my cham
Der the next morning feeling as guilty
as felon' approaching the bar OF JUS
tice, my aunt met me with smile,
playfully chided me for having taken
just a drop too much, and cautioned me
to be careful and not in future overesti-
mate my bibulous powers. That same
night again sought the false cheer OF
the wine cup.
Lower and lower | went in my
downward course, the demon of drink
sinking its poisonous talons deeper and
! deeper into my soul. No word of re-
Duke ever fell from my aunt's lips. She
continued to keep my purse well filed,
the good creature believing my crop of
wild oats would soon be sown and |
would then settle down into respect
able, sober manhood.
Two years ago this very day-the
date is notable one to me, for 1t Is
the second anniversary of my enlist
ment-I went on carouse with a
couple of my boon companions. In a
saloon in New York we met sergeant
of artillery, then attached to recruit
ing Office in that city. lie was hand
some, dashing young fellow and at
once took great fancy to him and
asked him to join us in our revcls. Re-
firing to private room in the rear of
the saloon ordered wine, and we were
soon deeply under the influence of the
seductive liquor. Our rotations grew
deeper and deeper until my two com
panions fell into drunken sleep in their
chairs.
THE sergeant then suggested q wal
but told him that gentlemen of our
standing should ride, and I ordered q
carriage and we drove away. We
stopped at various drinking places
about the city, and became wild with
my frequent potations and ready tc
second any proposition that the ser
geant might make.
"'Coine and enlist with me, old fel
low he said. You will have nothing
to do but wear a uniform and hang
around with me looking for recruits
and we will have glorious time il
this gay city,
in my irresponsible state agreed
to his proposition and ordered the driv
er to take us to the street and the mum
Der he named. have dim, indistinc
recollection of ascending a stairway
supported by the sergeant, of him tell
ing me to give the name of Richard
Brown, of replying to some questions
propounded by an officer, and then o.
raising my hand and taking an oath
A few moments later, with lot of men
! was taken to boat and helped OF
board, and there fell into drunken
sleep.