The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-22


The fatal shooting Of a Young man
Of this city by woman Of the town
last night is sad but timely warn
ing TO other young men, and to the
parents Of Columbia
Whiskey caused the shooting. Whis-
key led that young man 10 his down
fall, and most likely to his death. He
was not born bad. His parents are
respectable, honest industrious, clever,
good people; loving, long suffering
and forgiving. His sisters are loyal,
devoted, tender and true. HIS family
have plead with MIN and prayed for
him, and suffered and tOiled and payed
out their hard earned money for fines
imposed upon him. Only Yesterday
brother in-law finished paying fine
for him, having received his monthly
wages from the railroad that day. He
had family and friends likes and dis
likes good impulses and bad and
when free from the maddenning drug
called whiskey, was not so markedly
unlike your son, gentle reader, or your
brother, or your sweetheart. Way
ward though he was, he was yet some
body's darling. And re knew it, For
when they started home with him last
night, the thought of his dear old grey
haired mother sObered his senses and
quieted his curses, and he said with
choked voice, "Don t. for Gods sake
don carry me home, boys 1t will
worry my old mother to death.
But in his early youth he had been
allured into the saloon. "Allured"
means to entice, and we use the word
advisedly. He did not-at firsU-de-
lii fately go to the saloon; he was
allured there. The bright lights
charmed him; the cordial welcome
fattered him; the good comradeship
delighted him and he took drink,
just one-and that glass of beer, per-
haps-just to be social, and because he
was asked to. Any harm in that?
Well just this much: That was the
beginning Of the end. And what we
would burn into the brain of our
readers right now if we could, is this ::
Other boys are being 'allured" that
same way. Other boys, whether yours
or your neighbors, are being "enticed"
to start that downward path. While
YOU, for fear or policy or trade. - sit
quietly by and see it done, without
raising your voice or hand to prevent
it.
The young man who was shot, when
he entered that house last night, did
so with the remark, II have come
here to raise hell - That is what
whiskey had done for him. 1t had fired
his brain and put hell into him. 1t
has done that before, not only for him
but for many others. 1t raises hell in
me- s minds, in their hearts, in their
homes, in their communities, and il
peoples hell with its victims. And YET
men, gifted with eloquent tongues and
the power of argument when called
upon at critical times like these,
positively refuse to make one argu
ment against it, and others even go sc
far as to vote for it. How any mar
may reconcile his conscience to thu
omission Of duty or the commission
of a crime like this, God alone knows
When this young man was brOugh
from the house where he was shot, NJ
town. bottle of whiskey was founC
on his person. A saloon keeper presen
tasted the stuff in the bottle and said
This vile stuff will make a man d.
anything; the best of whiskey will
give him all the trouble he can tax,
care of :"
THAT is an honest confession, " saiC
friend.
Eyes, sell the stuff, and / know
what it will do for men, said tn,
whiskey seller. That man is able
bodied. honest, brave and generous
He ought to get out of the business he
is in, which he knows robs home OF
its happiness, women of their treasures
men of their manhood, and 20 int,
some other business and be thai
honest, useful citizen he is capabl,
of being
Another saloon keeper also cam
upon the scene, OF, rather near to il
and this is what he said damn
him, he ought to die it is such as h,
who bring reproach upon our bust
ness
Think of that, young man, Will
you are in your sober senses. You ar
quite as good in every way, If no
better. than the man who made tina
heartless, crule speech. Your position
in society and business is as high o
higher than his. Now. while You ar
a man and gentleman. But ALLOW
yourself 10 be allured 10 these drinkin
dives Just once too often; drink frs
Of the good whiskey' that will Civ
You all the trouble You can take car
OF. then when troubleScomes an