The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-10-07
A TALE OF WOE.
THE FIRST GLASS.
How a Bright Young Man at Fay
etteville Staggered into the
Penitentiary.

North Carolina Baptist.
Last week, at the Cumberland Coun-
ty Criminal Court, there was a young
man about % years of age sentenced to
the Penitentiary for stealing, while
drunk, pair of gloves from the court
house during the session of court. We
knew the young man, knew his qualifi-
cations as a swift and skilled workman
and how he had been brought down by
liquor. Accordingly, we asked him to
write statement of>his career and we
give 1t below. It speaks Tor itself and
Is warning to young men:
II have been asked to write few facts
in regard to what whiskey and associa-
ton with bad company have brought me
to but am afraid it is beyond my pow
er to relate it in maner which may be
the means of causing young men and
yonng girls, who are on the road to dis
grace, ruin and perdltion, to stop and
think of the reward they will reap
when they reach their destiny.
"Twelve years ago, my chances in
the race of life we're as bright as those
of any young man. had all that
would cause any young man to feel
happy and proud. had beautiful
home, in which we're the idols of my
heart father, mother, sister and broth
ers-and where kind words and advice
we're given me without limit.
CAT the age fof Is years I launched
out upon the sea OF life. I entered an
establishment in this State to learn a
trade, and by being obedient, and ca
tering to the welfare OF my employer,
in the course of few years I rose to
be a trusted employe of the establish
ment, so much so that I was allowed
to make collections tor the firm and
was also allowed to carry the keys of
my employers private Office. / con-
tinued with this firm quite while,
when one day some young men, whom
I thought were the best friends had,
prevailed upon me to accompany them
to social gathering of young ladies
and gentlemen, which I decided to do
and when I did, decided upon
taking my first step to ruin and dis
grace. / met my so-called friends at
the appointed hour, and they decided
that before we proceeded to where I
expected to pass few hours in pleas
ant conversation with some Christian
people, that join them in few glass
es of wine, which I would not do.
They persuaded and insisted that it
would do me no harm to drink glass
of wine, so I yielded. That was the
first glass of intoxicating liquid that
ever touched my lips, and that glass is
the cause of my present ruin and down.
fall. After drinking the wine we start
ed to the "social gathering" and on our
way there we INDUCED in a few drinks
of whlskey, the effects of which made
me feel hilarious. Finally we reached
the gathering, and gathering it was
men and women from the lowest and
most degraded slums and dives of all
parts Of the globe-Italians, Hunga-
rians, Swedes, Norwegians, and, last of
all, I am sorry to say, Americans, all
reveling in sin and debaucbery. l join
ed the crowd and drank whiskey and
wine to the toasts of liars, thieves and
murderers. After the lapse of few
hours I staggered through this crowd
with my head dizzy and whirling, from
the effects of that demon-whiskey-
to the door and upon the street, and
how 1 reached home God only knows.
Next morning was unable to report
for duty, and lied to my dear old Ia
ther. whose mortal remains now lie in
the cold clay in the beautiful Getty OF
the Dead"-by telling him my employ
er had given me holiday.
"I kept up this pace until 1 lost my
position. My appetite for drink be-
gan to grow stronger and stronger un-
til I became an outcast and was order.
ed to leave home. Dear friend, my
heart is so full fear I will not be
able to proceed farther, and l will be
compelled to cut this letter short.
"I had lost my position and social
standing in life-lost money, honor
friends, and, last of all home-I roam.
ed the country over. tramp and yag
abond, with hardly anyone to offer me
a word of consolation and for what ?
because I would not listen to their ad-
vice and craved for that which has
brought sorrow, poverty and death in
to the household and blasted and blot
ted the hopes of many a pure and yirt
uous llfe-whiskey.
O, young men and young women
look at me to-day. What is my re
If your child is puny, fretfui, trou