The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19

ing a man of strong mind and remarka-
Bile memory, he was able at any time to
quote long passages from all the stand
ard poets and many of the more beaui-
ful passages from the English classics.
His benefactor, being of a practical
turn of mind, put his protege in a print
ing Office that he might have a remuneT-
alive calling on which he could always
depend for a living. Baker learned the
printers trade working in the best of
fees, not only in Texas, but throughout
the country, in his younger years, and
then he ranked well as a printer
The fortU-Ie he inherited he soon squan-
dered, spending il with a free hand with
boon companions. having a good time
as the phrase goes.
The mans constitution and physical
stamina to stand up as he has for nearly
quarter of century past under the
fearful drains made by his habits upon his
strength have been wonder to all who
know him.
Winter and summer were alike to him.
neither the storms and chills of the one
nor the heat of the other seeming to affect
him in the least.
For years without a local habitatIon
without shelter he coad call his own
without soul on all the earth to have
a care or tender feeling for him, he has
rOamed the highways and byways, the
dark alleys and the slums of different
CAtltSs q iiliSttdble ueieilCL uOdllHS on the
sea of life, buffeted by every wave, tossed
hitheT and yOnder by every tempest, home
less amid thousands of homes in all the
world, in penury and want, the enemy of
no man save himself, the miserable victim
and slave to an Unsuitable demon whose
chains were forged in years gone by by
his own social temperament and generous
whole-souled nature.
when for a time he had thrown aside
his manacles, which he frequently did, and
he was himself again, he would astonish
those who had known him only as a me-
andering outcast with his wonderful store
of information, his charming colloqual
powers his display of all the noble attri-
butes of an exalted manhood.
His good qualities were natural and
abundant; his bad ones were all acquired,
consisting chiefly of his one besetting sin.
Let the mantle of charity cover the bad
and let the good only live in the memories
of those who knew him, for the grave has
enclosed him. and the grass will grow as
green, the flowers bud and bloom as light
ly and the birds sing as sweet lullabes
above his lowly resting place as though
a prince were sleeping there"
1t seems that he had a premonltion Sat
urday of what was coming. He visited
Frank Hamms saloon, corner Commerce
and Martin streets. What occurred there
is best told by Hamm himself.
I've known Jim for years. He came in
al o'clock and handed me a newspaper.
Then he asked for a drink of whisky /
told the bartender not to supply him with
whisky; he didn't need it. Finally he
asked for a glass of beer, and the bar
tender handed him what he desired. He
drank it down with a gulp, and then, turn
ing to me, said: Frank, this is my last.
1 have given you the last paper. 1t is
all up with me-
Jim you are not going to take any
thing? said II
No said he, and he gave queer little
laugh. Then my bartender said to him:
" JIM go over to my room in the
Thompson building, lie down in the bed
and take nap. You are not looking well
to-day
and Jim walked across the street and
entered the side entrance of the Thompson
building. Well he never went upstairs.
He just crawled among the chairs and
fell over and died. He knew it was COM
ing, l guess, judging from the conversation
here. Poor old JIM He was his own
worst enemy"