Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-08
BETTER THAN A PLEDGE.
How Dr.. John Wesley Brown Helped a Man
1 TO Give Up the LIQUOR Habit.


II A Cleveland man tells this pathetic
and characteristic story Of the late
Rev. DR.. John Wesley Brown, the Incl
dent occurring while he was rector of
trinity church in this city. The sto-
ry was told the narrator by the doctor
himself.
IL One evening a stranger called at the
fectory on Superior street adjoining the
church. He was a well dressed, well
appearing man, but evidently In deep
trouble.
"Dr. Brown" he said, "I have come
to you for advice and assistance. am
. victim of the drink habit, I have
an excellent position-I am cashier for
D wealthy corporation and I know I
cannot retain it unless I reform.
want you to draw up q pledge for me
make 1t as strong as you can, please
and I will sign it, and you will witness
it,"
| DR.. Brown leaned back and looked
at the man.
How long have you been drinking
TO excess?" he asked.
The man told him it was five or six
years; ever since he obtained his pres
ent position. He only drank to excess
when he was with his friends. He
never drank at other times. When he
was with his friends he would forget
himself. and overstep the limit. Some
times he didn't go on spree for a
whole month; but the attacks were
growing more frequent. He seemed to
be losing his will power.
my friend" said the doctor, "you
don't heed pledge. see in you vic
tim Of good comradeship. You are
tar from being an ordinary drunkard.
If you signed temperance pledge and
broke it-as you undoubtedly would do
1T would still further degrade you in
yeur own eyes. I do not advise the
pledge
The man looked dumfounded.
"But what am to do2" he gasped.
The doctor drew a card from his desk
and rapidly wrote few lines.
There" he said, read that"
This is what the man read:
ITO my friends: I am becoming a
victim Of the liquor habit. If do not
quit I am sure to lose my position and
ruin myself For Gods sake, don't ask
me to drink with you"
There" said DR.. Brown, "sign that
and will sign it as witness. All
ask Of you Is to show the card when
temptation Is at your elbow, and If
you fall come here and tell me about
1T. There! Good night"
It was a full month before the man
returned worried and detected.
II expected you long before this y
said the doctor, as he greeted the
stranger. "Tell me about it. Did you
show the card?"
"Yes," replied the man. The first
time was the very next night after
called on you. A good friend, a railroad
man, came into the Office and after
had checked up his accounts said:
Come, Charlie, let's go over to the Oys-
ter House and have drink. Well
sir, was reaching for my hat when
remembered the card. I took 1t out
and handed it to him. I thought he
would never finish reading It. He look
ed at me and looked at the card. And
then he slowly put his arm down on
the counter and said: Charlie, I'd soon
er cut that hand off than ask you to
drink again.. Well, sir, showed that
card several times after that, and ev-
cry blessed man showed 1t to took II
seriously. Sometimes they'd say, All
right, old boy Sometimes they'd lay
/ it down without a word. And then-it
was last night forgot about it, and
here am"
"You are doing WELL" said the doctor.
Have courage and try and make the
interval a little longer the next time.
It was three months before the man
came back. The next time it was six
months.
And now," said the doctor to the
narrator, 'it is nearly two years since
his last call, and I have every reason
to believe that he will not find it neces-
sary to come again. So you see, 1 was
quite right. 1t wasn't pledge that
he needed.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
DISAPPOINTED AMBIT1oNs.-The boy