The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-10-08
WHO is TO BLAMEq

ton by Mrs. Irwin, of Geneva)
On the old 14th street r. r. crossing
in st. Louis number of children were
playing on their way home from
school. So busily engaged were they
that they did not heed the on coming
train Cntil it was almost upon them.
With screams of fright they ran, and
all escaped with the exception of one
little fellow about seven years of age.
He fell, the train running over and
crushing both lower limbs. On being
picked up and taken to the hospital,
it was found neces sary to amputate
both limbs just at the knee joint The
r. r. company bore all expenses then
settled upon him a certain amount of
money to be paid yearly, so as to pro-
vide good education for him, so that
when grown to manhood he could
earn his own living. But, alas, it was
entrusted to the hands of those who
should have had the dearest interests
of that hoy at heart. But oh how my
heart would ache and how angry feel
ings would arise when / have watch
ed that poor child hObble from his yard
out onto the pavement on those stumps
of limbs, not even a crutch or cane
provided for him, cross the street and
climb onto our coal shed and sit there
by the hour, all in order to get away
from the fight going on between his
drunken father and mother.
Yes, l say mother, too, for both of
them used that school money to buy
the liquid fire to drink which made
them more like brutes than human
beings, and truly made the home of
that boy place of torment. Now l
ask, "Who was to blame?" Your an
swer, perhaps, will be the father and
mother. l say no. For if there had
been no licensed place for them to buy
the intoxicating drink, then they
could not have drank it.
In certain western town lived
happy family. Father, mother and
several children, among them bright
hoy. who growing 60 manhood had.
as yet, never touched card. AS he
mingled in society he became attach
ed to young lady who, to his sorrow
he found, was very fond of playing
cards. Nothing, for quite a while,
could induce HIM to play a game. but
as his heart became more interested
in the one he loved, her gentle per-
suasiOns from time to time led him to
give way, and he soon became an apt
scholar in her hands. He became so
infatuated with the game that fire.
guently he was found at card parties
His passion grew stronger and strong
er until the parlor games were losing
their novelty, and he craved stronger
excitement. He was found at places
where money was staked and gam
bling carried on with a high hand.
He played, he staked. he won ; played
again, staked mis- all and lost. Quick
as a lightning flash the pistol was
drawn, and he fell a suicide at the
gambling table. l ask again, Who
was to blame? Some will answer, he
was, for not having more manly cOur-
age and stamina. l again say no on
the one who first tempted him to play
the first game rests the blame.
Alice, L want you to come to our
house tonight, we are going to have
select party. What is to be the main
amusement? o, dancing mostly. just
TO the music of the piano, you know.
Don't look so aghast; why there is no
harm in a parlOr dance, just select
few. L know your father and mother
object, but ask them to let you come,
just to look on, you need not take any
part. Tell them Hattie and Mary are
coming aud you know they neither
dance nor believe in it. They all
went. Why, says Alice, 1 see no
harm in that neither did Hattie or
Mary. Not long afterwards they at
tended another, this time taking part.
Intensely infatuated they became; f.
nalIy would steal from home to attend
a public ball. Two of those girls were
led step by step lower and lower, un-
til their life was one of shame and de-
hatchery. Who was to blame? You
say, the poor foolish girls, for being
led away and having no more power
of self-control. 1 say nay. Their first
tempter is surely the one to blame.
You now say to me those are fancy
sketches you have given US. Would
that could tell you they were. But
/ cannot. What have here written
L know actually to have occurred.
Now what does the Book of Books tell
us. "Woe unto him that giveth his
neighbOr drink, that putteth the bot
tie to him and maketh him drunken,
Also" Then surely all who vote to
license liquor are to blame for those