Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-19

this part of the programme was not
carried out.
In the meantime the light divertise-
ment which Billy Meekins was sched-
uled to furnish cid not materialize, as
for some reason or other Billy devel-
oped remarkable staying powers. In
fact, he and the general were about the
only persons left in an apparently
normal condition, and 20 all appear
ances he was as normal Gs the general,
which is saying good deal or be-
ginner, for the general had an inter-
state reputatic for his steady head.
His enemies, IL fact, said he was
walking jug-a sort of official jug with
slightly inflamed palate in the neck.
especially devised for gubernatorial
representation at state dinners.
Well, after all the champagne had
gone off the crowd followed suit and
Billy Meekins walked home through
the gray early morning and tumbled
into bed very soon before his wife
who was a very conscientious house
keeper-got up, and fell into sound
sleep.
About 8 o'clock he woke up with a
very strange, confused feeling, such as
had never fallen to his lot before, and
which alarmed him considerably, and
started out Immediately to discover his
present approximate position in time
and space. In the course Of his voyage
of exploration around the room he ran
aground on the washstand and cap
sized, taking with him the water
pitcher. When his wife appeared she
found her husband in a truly alarming
condition. He was lying among the
ruins of the water pitcher breathing
heavily, deathly pale, and so far gone
that he could not even articulate. 1t
was something she had never seen be-
fore. With great presence of mind she
hauled him on the bed, dispatched three
boys for the doctor and sent out gen.
eral alarm among the neighbors, who
turned out in great force When tho
first doctor arrived he found her on tho
verge of collapse, but strenuous to bo
told the truth. Unfortunately he wal
an old-school practitioner. who prided
himself on his ability to do just that
thing. Madam" he said, "your hus-
band is drunk" When he came out OF
the room the neighbors knew tho
worst.
OF course Billy Meekins didn't know
the seriousness of the catastrophe at
the time, but it was promptly brought
to his attention when he once regained
consciousness. Under the circum-
stances there would naturally be a
certain amount Of tribute due to out
ragged womanhood in any family, but
Billy's wife was actually vindictive.
She said it was bad enough to be
newspaper mans wife anyway, with
out having married a drunkard, and
she started for home on the next train;
it was full two months before she was
coaxed back again.
When she finally relented she re-
turned with preparations for whole
sale reform. she instituted family
Billys sleep to drag him to church. She
also proposed him for special attention
to her minister, which he received. She
said it should not be her fault if he
did not have good companions in the
future, incidentally making remarks
about the other men in the office which
have forever precluded further rela-
tons of friendship and amity between
her and the other mans wife, and she
filed the house with temperance en-
thusiasts and missionary workers, who
come often to dinner and sing psalm
tunes a long time after in the evening.
all of which Billy takes cheerfully for
the sake of harmony and as the price
of his sins having found him out. or
course as time has gone on he has
gone into the good work himself as
guaranty of good faith; he is really
quite an ardent temperance man; it is
fascinating TO hear his little addresses
to the loyal children's league. But he
tells me privately he is afraid this sort
Of thing is going to drive him to strong
drink.