The Worthington advance., 1900-01-12
DRINK RUINS MANY.
Statesmen Who Sacrifice Fame to
Their Appetite for Liquor.
Very Few of the Slaves of Alcohol
Ever Amount to Much-A Pecul.
iarly Sad Phase of Life in
Warrington.
CSDecial WASHINGTON Letter. I

Especial Washington Letter.]
They who have talents and waste
them deserve reprobation, as we are
informed not only in the Bible, but as
result of our practical experience
with the world.
How many of us have seen brilliant
talents prostituted by men for selfish
pleasures. In every village or town
or city there is to-day living some
man of whom his fellow citizens say:
''He might be leader of men, but he
drinks.'
When Billy Mason, of Chicago, was
in congress-, ten years ago, people
predicted fame for him; but at last
they said that he would never amount
to anything, because he was hard
drinker. When he finally left con-
gress even those who admired him
said that he would never be heard
of again, because of his unfortunate
habit. But Billy Mason managed to
conquer or control that habit. AS the
few years passed away, and Mason
was forgotten here, as statesmen are
all forgotten when they leave the cap
ital, the rotund little man was TAX
ing care of himself and preparing for
rehabilitation as statesman. Peo-
pie here were surprised when they
heard that Mason was a candidate for
the senate. They were still more sur
prised when they heard that he had
been elected. They remembered him
as of yore. They did not know that
he had conquered the habit which
dwarfed his abilities. He had not for
ever buried the talents which had
been given to him.
There is no better place in this land
to study the parable of the talents
than right here where the best prod
ucts of our citizenship annually con-
gregate. Newspaper writer's VINO
grow old and bald, and sometimes
stale, somehow acquire a pessimistic
view of the American people, when
they realize that the best men of the
congressional districts are sent here;
and yet these best men are so far
from being worthy men. So many Of
them lack the fundamental principle
of good citizenship, love of family
and home. So many of them bury
their best talents and cover them
with selfishness. So many of them
seek the evanescent pleasures of the
passing days.
There came to Washington a man
from Iowa, a brilliant orator, a man
who had won renown as a soldier, a
man who had done deeds of valor in
the civil war which still stand forth
in the memory of his friends. But he
became an habitual drunkard. Tai
ents he had in wonderful measure,
but he was licentious; insanely so.
Finally, after he had become unfit
to hold any Office, the writer saw him
in rags, sitting before the door of
Senator Allison, begging an inter-
view. He was then half intoxicated.
Ordinarily, no senator would have
given such creature thought. But
Senator Allison came to the door,
took the wreck by the hand, led him
to a chair and asked him what he
desired. His reply was: II want q
ticket to my old home. I want trans
portation over the railroad. I want
to be buried by friends and neighbors
who used to love me. don't want to
die here and be buried in potter's
field.'
He was given lodging place, a
good supper, and on the following day