The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-08
A RUINED LIFE.
History Of a Battle Against a silen Foe
fBy Joseph Jererson)

-
(By Joseph Jenerson.)
Some few weeks ago this celebrated ac-
tor made an address to the 800 convicts
at the state prison in Chariestown, Mass.
1t was am impressive scene when Mr.. JET
ferson stood before his audience. The
men were silent and attentive, while the
actor seemed visib.y affected In his ad-
dress. which was remarkably interesting.
trave.ing in Australia He safd:
Il had teft what 1 called my home
station ard was making an excursion
in the blue gum forest. I had galloped
about twenty mics. D~isuHounting from
the horse, / sat down to take a lunch.
A large flock Of cockatoos. Those beauti-
ful white parrots with yeI1ow creSts.
came circIing around ard aCighted III the
trees overhead / was watching the curl
Gus maneuvers of these birds as they
were chaiJtering and hopping about
among the limbs, when they stopped sud
denly, as if warned. Something was evil
IDENTIFY approaching of which they were
in dread. They set up an awful scream
and with a tremendous fuuter spread
their wings and flew away.
"JuSt at that moment a large black
collie dog came bounding out of the
bushes, and suddenly Stopped in front
OF me. For a moment I was startled.
The deg paused, eyed me keeniy; then.
coming Slowly UP. walked around me
and as last approached and clicked my
hand, which | had he'd out to nim. He
then ran away.
Il IIdd new CT tTI d tOS act III 50 Sl1-
gular a manner, and was wondering
what it could mean, when a sharp, joy
ful bark, warned me that he was return
ing, and, sure enough, he had come back,
wagging his tail, ard followed by the
gaunt figure Of a man, thfnly clad, bare
footed, and with a wide br.mmed. frayed
straw hat on his head. He was about
80 years Of age and, as he removed his
hat and made a we'll hammered, dtgnified
bow, | could see that Though Che was. un-
doubtediy a shepherd, he had once been
a geEIJ eman.
AS he stood barerneaded before me.
the wind blew his long thing. sandy hair
about his brow. and he regarded me with
a strange, far-off look in his eyes. l met
several shepherds after this. and noticed
that same strained expression. They live
so much lo-ne-sOmetime even three or
four months without seeing a human
being-that they form this habit of look
ing over the plains, hoping that they
may catch sight of some one to relieve
the awful monotony of their Lives.
The man sat down quietly beside me
and ate sparlng-y and rather mechani-
Cahy of the lunch, always sharing his
morsal with Jack, his dog. | took out a
flask of wthiskey, and pouring out some
of it inl5o a cup, offered my guest a drink.
His eyes beamed with a longing look as
he saw the liquor, and. turning on me a
strange. frightened look, said: No; none
of that. Put it away, please. L don't
like the sight of it,
1T now dawned upon me THAT my
friend was a reformed drunkard who
came out to this lonely part of the word
to avoid temptation. 1 mad heard that
there were many such i'm Australia, and
THAT the shepherds life was chosen as
being the MOST Isolated one THAT could
be found.
II rose to take my departure, when he
said: You WON'T go tonight. viii you? It's
too late. | wish you would stay i'm my hut
tonight. Its so hong since | have seen a
human face, over three months. A man
only comes once in a great while to bring
provisions, and that is an We see of hu-
manlty from one years end to THE other.
Do stay tonight won't your
"1'd like to oblige you 1 replied. but
they will be uneasy about me at the
home station
But are you sure you know the
way? You might get lost
"'Oh, no. l replied.
"TIle poor fertow hung his head and
looked THE picture of despair.
How far is it to the hut?' I asked.
Only a mile, I assure YOU 1 agreed
to so no it, SO he STARTED off at a good
pace, fearing 1 might change my mind
l suppose. The dog ran ahead, barking,
and | followed ON horseback. We soon
came upon his hut. 1t was built of mud,
sticks and straw, with the hard cath for
a floor. The shepherd prepared a. cup of
tea-the usual beverage of the bush.
The sun had gone down behind the
Tow horizon with the same effect that
it does at sea. AS We sat outside, upon
a couple of rude blocks of wood, Thinking
our refreshing tea, the moon rose up,
shedding it's soft light over this mystic
rious scene; there was NO sound but the
distant tinkle of a Sleeps bell and the
cracking of the libtle fire that was boiling
THE tea. The smoke went up straight and
SILENTLY into the still air. The Loneliness
was bad enough with two men,; what
must ut have been with one?
Il felt that there was something more
in my profound acquaintance than 1 had
as yet learned, so 1 iigthted my pipe and
began to draw it out. Here was a man
VuHEHn no il1gra from hi- mo nro.or a y1
speech, must have been teTlderly reared
ana ihiShly educated, and one, too, who
had practised the busy calling of the law,
yet in a few years of isola tion the bright
mind had become faded, and the human
Took of the face changed almost to the
blank expression of a sheep.
Il questioned him about his past life
1T seems he had been educated at Elton
became a fast youth i'm London where
he stidied for law, and in a short time
arose to be a successful barrister. He
married early, and fhad one Child, a
daughter. born to him. After two years
of welded life he lost his wife and child
Despairingly he took to drink. and. being
weak and desperate, went down hill and
Host his position.
THAT. once lost in London, is seldom
regaaned. Not so I'M America. Here
when a man fails. if he has the strength
to brace up again, he goes to the west
and, rubbing up against a new society
abSorbS fresh magnetism ard reclIpera-
ttOn ait once. No one need despair in this
Eand of the free. But London is compact
The Eng.iShman hates to leave his
home. His fal,ings are known and if h
remains they are flung in his face. Their,
is MO escape for him, and as his friend.
shun him he falls in deeper disgrace.
This was THE trouble that had bese,
the shepherd. who having a sensitive ana
perhaps a weak mind, succumbed to tn,
!, pressure that surrounded him, and afte
a time. with a broken spirit, he left Eng
|, fand and went to the colonies. He prac
ticed law in Melbourne for some tim,
successfully, but the ord habit came bacl
, on him. and, as he cou,d not resist temp
;. tation. he buried himself in that sheeI
station.
This was the story he tod me. an.
there was no doubt of its truth.
1T was now getting late, ard tn
: shepherd insisted on my taking hi
couch-an old canvas cot, with a plai
> gray blanket spread Upon it. So, as
y was tired, l accepted the offer. and la
l down for a night rest. My companio
=. stretched his tall figure on the grass out
{ side. Jack lay between US.
i The s~trangeness of the scene, toget1e
with tht strong tea, seemed to banis