Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-14

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higher up in social life or IN financial re-
sources. Our'friend felt flattered to have
an invitation from one Of superior name.
Each one drank not only when he felt like
it, but when the other felt like it Neither
wanted to seem lacking in sociallty when
he was invited. So 100, 900 men every year
are treated into hell. Together are they
manacled Of evil habit, together they travel
toward their doom, together they. make
merry over the cowardioe or Puritanical
sentiment of those who never indulge, to-
gether they join their voices In the song Of
the drunkards II the one proposes to stop,
the other will not let him stop. When men
are getting down themselves they do not
want their associates to turn back. Those
who turn back will be the scof and carl
cature of those who keep on, and there
will be conspiracy to bring them back TO
their old places and their old environment,
and SO have them renew the song of the
drunkards. There was a tragedy in New
York September, 1S45. A man of marvel
Gus natural gifts had, after arriving from
his home in Elgland, fallen into dissipated
habits and, being fine singer as well as
impersonator enter aimed many barroom
group at Newburyport, Boston and New
York, but, by the grace of God and the
kindness Of one Joel Stratton, had been
rescued and took the platform for temper
ance and moved vast audiences toward a
better life destroy him." said some Of
his old associates, and they set trap for
his feet "How do you do, Mr.. Cough"
/ NL,N fY,N VOntp
He pretended to bo an old acquaintance,
and said, 81 suppose you are so pious now
and have got to be so proud that you will
not drink glass of soda water with an
old shipmate. " "Oh, yes, said Mr.. Cough,
~ will drink a glass of soda water with
Snybody. will drink glass with you"
They went down Chambers street to
Chatham street, and into place where
"Best Soda was announced at the door.
After some delay there was handed to him
a glass of soda water said to be favored
with raspberry; but, alas it was rum, that
! few to his brain and sent him through the
street an insane man, and weeks passed be-
fore he came to himself and implored the
pardon of the Christian church that he had
Joined and resumed his wondrous career
/ for God and righteousness. But all the
grogshops and places of dissipation rang
with merriment at the temporary down.
fall. All the grogshops and wine cellars
of America took up with new voice and
new gusto and new enthusiasm and new
diabolism the song of the drunkards.
Effect of Song.
There looms up in my memory one Of
the best and noblest friends / ever had.
He had been for 80 years a consistent
member of the church. knew not that
at about 81 years of age he had followed
the sea and habits of inebriacy had been
fixed upon him. But converted to God he
began new life. Yet 1t was a 80 years
war against the old appetite, but about
this struggle I knew nothing until he was
dead. While absent during my summer
vacation received a telegram announcing
his death and asking me to come and
officiate at his obsequies. arrived at the
moment the service was to begin, and had
not much time to make inquiries about
his last hours. In my remarks, without
any limitations, I extolled his virtues while
living and spoke of the heavenly raptures
into which he had entered Afterward !
found that he had died of delirium tremens
in the hospital, because he was SO violent
he could not be sufficiently restrained in
his beautiful home. He had been seized in
the street with violent pains of body and
went into an apothecary store to get medi-
cal relief. Something there given him set
on fire his old appetite for strong drink,
and, utterly Irresponsible he went from
liquor store to liquor store, until, raving
maniac the officers of the law bound him
and took him to the hospital, where he
died. Some time after said to the doctor
in the hospital, "Of what did he diep''
And the answer was, Congestion of the
BRAIN" / said: doctor, want to know
the bottom facts, for was his pastor, and
he was one of the best friends I ever had.
Was 1t delirium tremensp" And the doc.
tor responded, eyes" Did regret that
at his obsequies I had extolled his virtues
and spoken of the heavenly joys upon
which he had entered2 No. do not think
that my friend was any more responsible
for the mode of his taking off than a ty-
phoid fever patient in delirium is respon
sible for leaping out of the fourth story
window. But while we were heartbroker
about his going away, think that in the
saloons, to those who heard of his mem
bership of the church and the tragedy oi
his departure. he became, as did the Davit
and the Christ of my text, the song of tht
drunkards.
Easily Learned.
Again, the song of the drunkards II
easily learned. Through what long ant
difficult drill one must go to succeed as ar
, elevated and inspiring singerl Emma Alb
bott, among the most eminent cantatrice'
that ever enchanted academies of music
told me on ocean ships deck, In answer
to my question, "Whither are you boundf'
, II am going to Berlin and Paris to stud!
, music. - "Whatr' l said. "After all you
, world renowned successes In music, going
| to study"
I Then she told me through what hard
ships, through what self denials, through
what almost killing fatigues, she had gon,
In order to be a singer and that when il
| her earlier days great teacher of musi
, had told her there were certain notes sh
could never reach, she said, II will reacl
them," and through doing nothing els
but practice for five years she did reacl
them. Oh, how many heroes and heroine
, of musical achievement! There are song
which are easy to hear, but most Difficult
J to render When Handel with new ora
torio, entered room where group o
musicians had assembled and said, seen
; tlemen, you all read musiop" They said
eyes, we play in church. I" every we'll,
said the great composer "Play this" Blu
, the performance was so poorly done Han
del stopped his ears and said: "You pla,
? in church, Very we'll, for we read the Lore
is long suffering, of great kindness, and for
giving of iniquity, transgression and sin
. But you shall not play for me-" Pur
l music, whether fingered on instrument o
trilled from human lips, is most difficult
{ But one of the easiest songs to learn Is tn
t song of the drunkards Anybody can learl
, it, In little while you can touch tn
8 highest note of conviviality or the loves
note of besottedness. Begin moderately,