The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-07

A Cleveland man tells this pathetic and
Characteristic story Of the late Rev. Dr.
John Wesley Brown. the incident occur
ring while he was reotor Of Trinity
Church in this city. says the Plain Dealer.
Tho story was told the narrator by The
doctor himself
one evening stranger called at the
rectory on Superior street adjoining the
church He was wcll-dressed, well ap-
pcarlng man. but evidently in deep
trouble.
DE Brwon' he sad. 4 have come TO
YOU for advice and assistance. I am
victim Of the drink habit have en- eN-
cellent posluon-I am cashier for
wealthy corporation-and ! know canuos
retain Il unless I reform. want you
70 draw up a pledge Tor me-make II a.
strong as YOU can. please-and / VIII slsa
90. and you will witness IT,
Dr Brown leaned back and looked al
the man.
How long have you been drinking 10
excess he asked.
The man cold him q was I'VE or SIX
wears. ever since he obtained his present
position He only drank 20 excess when
he was with his friends. lie never drank
az other times. when be was with MS
friends he would forget himself ana over
step the limit Sometimes he didnt so
on a spree Tor o whole month. but me al-
lacks were growing more frequent he
seemed 10 be losing his WI power
My friend" said tho doctor. you
don, need a pledge. see IN YOU a NlcsiH
OF good comradeship. You are Tar from
being an ordinary drunkard. II you
signed a temperance pledge ana broke 7.
- as YOU undoubtedly would dot would
sgu further degrade you in your own
eyes ] do not advise the pledge
The man looked dumtouuded
But what am / 10 do" be gaspcd
The doctor drew a card from his desk
and rapidly wrote few lines
There" ne said read that
This IL what the man read
TO my friends: / ird I am oecomlng
the victim Of the liquor habit u 10 no.
quit ! am sure 10 lose my position ana
ruin myself For Gods sake don asa
me to drink with you
There" said Dr. Brown. sign that AMI
I viii sign & as a witness. All ] ask OF
YOU is 10 show tho card when temptation
Is az your elbow. and ~ you IAN com.
here ana tel M about 80. There Coca
night"
Il was a full month before the man re-
turned. worried and detected.
Il expected you Ions before this said
The doctor. as he greeted TIE stranger.
hTel me about g. Did you show the
card2'
Yes" replied the man. Tho nrst time
was the very next night after I called on
you. A good friend. a railroad man. came
into the ONCE and after I had Checked Up
his accounts. said: Come. Charlie, let
60 over TO the oyster House and have a
drink Wei. sir. ] was reaching for my
hat when I remembered the cara. took
Il out and handed Il 10 him. thought
he would never finish reading H. lie
looked at me and he looked al the card
And then he slowly put his arm down or
the counter and said. Charlie, Ia sooner
cut that hand or than ask YOU to drink
again Well. sir ] showed that caro-
several times after that, and every bies-
sed man I showed tt to took IL seriously.
Sometimes they said All right. old hoy =
Sometimes they laid Il down without a
word. And then--it was last nighi-l Tor
got about Il. and here ] am
You are doing we'll" said the doctor.
Have courage. and Try and make the IN
terval a little longer next time.
Il was three months before the man
came back. Tho next time il was six
months
And now" said the doctor TO the mar
rator 1t Is nearly two years since has
last can. and have every reason 10 be-
lleve that he will not md IL necessary 20
come to mo again. SO. you sec. ! was
quite right II wasn't "A pledge that he
needed"