The evening times., 1896-12-12
sTRONG DRINK his MASTER
Pathetic Scene Witnessed in the
District Sanitary Office.
OLD MAN WAS THE PRINCIPAL
Bowling Under the Weight OF His
Years, James Graham, Once a
Prosperous Merchant Here,
Begged to Be Sent to PoOrhouse.
Story Of a Wrecked Life.

| A sad scene was witnessed late yester-
| day afternc on in Sanitary officer Frank S
| room, at police headquarters, patheti-
| eally illustrative Of the terrible effects of
| strong drink.
Bowed with the weight OF seventy y-seven
years, trembling like an aspen, friendless,
penBiless and homeless, james Graham
tottered into the sanitary office, seeking
help from himself and the biighting curse
which hung over his frail, old tenement
| like the very pail OF death. He SUPP orted
himself on an oak staff and gazed be-
seechinely atMr. Frankthrcughgl CLASSY eyes,
suffused with tears. which had formed
little rirHlets OF remOrse over his age fur
rowed face.
Only few years ago James Graham
was a prosperous merchant here, where
he has resided for thirty-six years. AS
straight as an arrow then, with we'll
, rounded figure, good clothes. hosts of
merry friends and a fat bank account.
Now trembling old man, palsied AMI
poor. bent like weeping willow bough
over new made grave, he is a derelict
on the sea OF life.
GRAHAM'S STORY.
IL have come" be faItered, Ito beg
you, sir. to send me to the poorbouse hos
pital-"
You have been there BEFORE said
the sanitary officer.
Yes, sir, 1 have, but this will be the
last time. / will never leave there alive
again. lam onthe verge OF delirium treinans
and my days are numbered. ! am sick,
pennilcss and alone, but it is all my fau;t.
To think that | should come to this
why do you drink and get in such
terrible condition as tbis?' asked Mr. Frank.
Il cannot-caunot help it, sir. The demon
OF drink is my master. He has brought me
to poverty and ruin
The ambulance was summoned, while the
official made out permit L. the almshouse
hospital. Then, with shuffling gait and
trembling limbs, the old man started for
the pauper S coach to take his long, per-
baps last. ride cover the hills TO the poor
house. As he was leaving the office, he
turned to Mr.. Frank, and, bowling his head,
said. in tremuIous tones:
Goodbye and God bless you, sir. You
will not be troubled with me again.
James Graham is an educated man. He
was born in England nearly scventy-seven
years ago, and priJr to his coming to this
country, in SEQ. he was an officer on one
of her ma lestys mtn-of-war His last
cruise was TO the East Indies. Then he RE
signed and came here to seek his fortune.
The goddess OF success smiled on him, but
he fell into gay company and drank AT
Next ripe old whisky and cUgnac, and
finally 5-cent "bummers'' Of liquid poison
IN the barrel houses.
Although besotted with rum, the spark
of manhcOd is still bright within him. and
during his talk with the sanitary officer
he was as courteous as Chesterfield.
A DIFFERENT CASE.
Hardly had the echoes OF james Graham's
footsteps died away in the long hallway
trast. short. red-faced Old woman loud
mouthed and cheeky, brushed briskly into
his office
She was bundled mp in great red shawl,
and her frowsyhead was partly concealedby
a soiled hood. On her arm the bustling
female, apparently as old as Graham, car
ried big basket
demanded, cause I'm tired OF hustling
about and am too old fer work.
The sanitary officer applied the usual
questions, made out the permit and handedit
to her.
''Sit down and wait a few moments" he
said. land the wagon will be here to carry
yol TO the almshouse''
NO, indeedy," she exclaimed. in a shrin
voice, Il amt ready to go today, but 1
wants the paper TO admit me ] will keepit it
until Monday, and by that time will be
ready TO make the trip, You know"
NO, don't know, replied Mr.. Frank
'You cannot have tin at permit now.
Come in when you are ready to go, and I
Will give you one" And he tore the paper
into fragments.
''Oh, you are SO suspicious. Mr.. Frank"
Then without more ado she whisked out of
the door and was gone.
THAT is an old game" said the sanitary
officer to a Times man. but | am onto it.
She wanted the permit to go around town,
incite sympathy and beg for money on it.
She would 90 to the housess of weIi-to-,io
people, show her admission card to the
almshouse and beg for assistance to keep
her from entering that instit ution.
1T is a shrewd trick, and works ike n
charm, but discovered that method of i'm
position several years ago and no NOR.
poorhouse permits are given for begging
purposes. Old man Graham was realIvfn
ne ed of a shelter, medical aid a nd attention
The woman was not. Shelves by herwits
and makes a comfortable living at that"