Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-09
THE DRuNKARD's SERMON.
Addressed To Two GIIded youths he
fore n bar.
New Orleans Plcayune)

CNew Orleans Picayune)
II was growing late. The tide OF hu-
manity that earlier in the evening
had ebbed and flowed through the streets
of the great city had swept onward
leaving the strange and almost appalling
sense of desolation that comes when the
noises OF the town are hushed. The cleo
trio lights hared unnoted on the corners,
the street-cars passed at farther inter-
walls, now and then a night worker hur-
ried by, his footsteps ringing out loud
and clear In the stiffness. In 'front.' OF
saloon whose lights shone out bright
and rudy across the pavement, STOOD
tramp, unshorn. ragged. dirty, disgusting.
He watched with envious eyes the men
who passed IN and out through the swing
ing doors. and then turned his eyes to-
ward two young fellows in evening dress,
who were coming down the street toward
him. They mad been drinking deeply,
and they stopped before the saloon door
and looked curiously at him. by Jove,"
said one. think of having a thirst like
that and not the price of an extin-
guisher in your pocket! Beats old Tanta-
lus all to pieces, Ell? Liquor, liquor
everywhere, and not drop to drink"
He ran his hand in his pocket and prof
fered the tramp a dime. but before 1t
could be accepted the other young fellow
interposed. SAY" he said. Tets do the
good Samaritan and set Hobo up to
good drink" The other hilariously con-
scented, and the tramp slouched into the
saloon at the heels OF the two gilded
youths. The barkeepef set before them
glasses and liquors and. with hand
that shook the tramp poured out
trimming glass and raised 1t to his lips.
stop" cried one of the young men
drunkenly; make US a speech. 1t is poor
liquor that doesn't unlOosen a mans
tongue" The tramp hastily swallowed
down the drink. and as the rich liquor
coursed through his blood he straight
ened himself and stood before them with
a grace ard dignity that all his rags
and dirt could not obscure. Gentlemen"
he said, II look tonight at you and AT
myself, and IL seems to me l look upon
the picture of my lost manhood. This
bloated face was once as young and
handsome as yours. This stumbling
figure once walked az proudly as yours,
n man I'm a world Of men. /, too, once
had home, and friends, and position. /
had a wife as beautiful as an artists
dream, and dropped the priceless pearl
of her honor and respect in the wine
cup, anu titppAli fi-llhNs SOW ~ Nio'Di'Nf
and quaffed It down in the trimming
draught. l had children as sweet and
lovely as the flowers of spring, and
saw them fade and die under the blight
ing curse Of drunkard father. l had
home where love lit the flame upon the
altar and minlstered before II, and / put
out the holy fire, and darkness and desc
lation reigned in it's stead. | had aspi-
ratiOns and ambitions that scared as
high as the morning star, and l broke
and bruised their beautiful wings, and,
at last, strangled them that 1 might be
tortured with their cries no more. To-
day / am husband without wife,
father without a child, tramp with no
home TO call his own, a man in whom
every good impulse is dead. All, all
swallowed up I'm the maelstrom OF
drink" The tramp ceased speaking
The glass fell from his nerveless fingers
and shiyered into a thousand fragments
on the floor. The swinging doors pushed
open and shut to again, and when the
little group about the bar looked up the
tramp was gone.