Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-16

had led to her trip south to learn now
her son was doing, Mrs. Preston went
on:
II gives me much pain, much more than can
tell you, Mr.. Blake, to say that Willis has fallen
into evil ways down here He was in the habit
Of drinking little when In college. ] knew that
at the time. and did all in my power to get
him to give up his secret society suppers and
leave all the drink Alone ! knew ! failed, for
when he was home last holiday season he told me
he had been drinking some. 1t seemed very
strange to you, ! have no doubt, that Willis
should leave me alone on Christmas day last year.
He gave as excuse his private theatrical en-
tertanment, arranged by the society men. In
reality knew at the time that he was restless to
be away from my restraint, SO that he could more
freely indulge in his growing habit. But all that
is as nothing compared with the horror ! feel
growing on me l see into what his habit has
grown since he came down. into this camp The
army canteen is a constant hell to the soldiers
and it has been the great source OF tempta-
ton to my son here. have asked myself thou
sand timer why government sanctioned this
destructive force ! am only poor, weak wom-
an and do not know all about the nice technl-
caities of the law, but the plain fact that ! do
know is that the United States through its ma
tonal laws, allows the army canteen to sell liquor
to its own soldiers within their camp and
actually tempts hundreds Of boys like mine by
maintaining and defending by law an institution
that is killing more bodies and souls than are
ever slain on the battleields Of all the nations OF
the world put together.
came down here two weeks ago. The second
day after l came ! found Willis intoxicated. He
was not on duty. and the ohense was not punish.
ed. Three days ago he was put in the guardhouse
for insulting an officer while under the influence
OF liquor. Yesterday he was taken from the
guardhouse to the camp hospital and he lies there
now raging with fever. the camp fever, that
has already proved fatal to several OF the regi'
ment.
And am sitting here in the tent by this son
Of mine, telling You Of his shame and Of my an
g,lish I do not know how this fever will ter
inmate. / will nurse him back to life, ii it be
Gods will and he give me strength. But II ne
allows to save his body. what hope have for
his soul2 The report comes that the regi'
ment may be ordered to active service in the
Philippines in the fall. If Willis RECEIVERS. do
net think any pleading on my part can prevent
his going He will reenlist and go there for the
sake of the excitement and chance OF real fight
ing And from what l learn OF conditions in Ma
Mia the rum and the whisky and the beer how
like water in the streets and all through the
camps Great God cannot help crying as l
think of What it " III mean to my only boy. Is
there no spot on earth under our flag where our
SO calt,d Christian civilization can prohibit TINS
evil? Even the papers printed in our own co'ln-
t,v the MAGAZINES that are published by mtn of
culture and education, 10y men who sit in ciish-
toned pews on Sunday and coinplacently pay SO
much wear to support the gospel print great adj
vertisements in which the liquor dealer boasts OF
the carloads Of liquor that have been shipped into
the Philippines since those islands, inhabited by
SO called heathen became our property. ana
these liquor advertisements, which pay such tat
revenue the publishers of these SO called jour
mails of civilization. face our Christian preachers
it,ap hnty1n IJV
cles and what do do about it? But oh. worst
of all is this army canteen! How shall my boy
resist this hourly temptation thrust SO hi1eousiy
and persistently in his face?
Mr.. Blake, I say this to YOU knowing that you
have come to love my son and knowing also that
your influence over him has beer greater than
even my own at times. l almost wish he could
die here, IL only he died sober and repentant.
rather than rise from this illness and go out into
the world to fall, as ] am he will fall. into
this hell And If he falls, at whose door shall We
nut part of the blame7 In Gods great Judgment
shall the head of this nation be counted guitlessf
Shall the government 90 unpunisheds
Willis has little volume of poems in his hand.
He asked for it soon as he was brought mere
from the guardhouse. In his delirium have tried
to take the book out Of his hand. but he clings
to it so that | cannot remove 1t. He has repeat'
edly mentioned your name and also your sister 8.
II there was any hope Of your doing anything LOT
Willis by coming here. | should beg you to come,
but | do not see how it would do any good. II
YOU pray, pray for me. The good God help me!
For all else seems mockery. LUCILLE PRESTON.
Probably in all his life Edward had
never felt more deeply moved than by
this remarkable letter from his chum
mother.
He read 1t again. and for the first
time in his young life horror grew
up in him toward the liquor business,
an Indignation that was destined to
burn in his soul all his life. started
from the fuel cast into it by that moth
er's bleeding heart.
1t was the very next day that his
new experience with the new pres!-
dent came to him.
He was in the office answering few
letters at the presidents dctation. The
president was going away for little
vacation in July, and several items OF
| college business were being dispatched
| before he went.
About 10 o'clock in the forenoon
| some one rang the bell, and Edward
| whose table was nearest the door,
opened it.
SIS the president in?" the mar
standing there abruptly asked. anc
without waiting for an answer the
, man, seeing President Royce at has
desk. stepped into the office.
"Mr. Rankinw the president exclaim
ed rs he rose.
eyes, SIR" replied the other stlff'y
II thought would come and see you
personally on the matter we have been
corresponding about"
The president looked at his visitor
with light in his eye that was new to
Edward. He was calm and dignified
but there was the look on his face OF
those who face battle.
Eyes, sir. Shall ask Mr.. Blake, my
secretary, to retire"
ono sir On the contrary, | have