Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-03
A Temperance Lecture That Was Un-

- thev foat down the stream.
But they're horribly battered inside
A Temperance Lecture That Was I'm
expected.
\ nv way home after a little
trfp some days ago. the passen-
gers in railroad coach were CIV
eu a free lecture on temperance,
which think win remain and
abide with them. I am sure Il made
lasting impression on my mind.
sitting on a seat Immediately behind
core az the actors in this intensely real
fstfc play. CHANGED TO listen 70 Few
words that were uttered, but IL was only
pantomime for the rest OF the on-lookers'
nevertheless well understood
As we pulled out OF Macon man. MS
wife. a girl about IA and a boy about Y
cas- near as 1 might guess) came in ana
took seats In front OF me and across the
aisle From the length OF their tickets
judged they were going some distance
away. Their dress betokened plain CIR
crmstances in living, and the man was
fool-drunks He jabbered away incessant-
IL. He staggered as he walked He was
as restless as a buck rabbit. and as sill
IL as an idiot. Wheughl How loathsomei
The mother and daughter sat together
awhile but the pater familias became so
uumanageable for the mortified boy that
ANE AlAAAAEA A4A AA4I @A--~ ~-~~--~@~
with the girl
7 thought she vas overcropped at that
stage Of the Temperance lecture Cd. but
there was more TO come. and II came
along fast
Another drunken man came in, who had
a little boy. not exceeding 5 years DID,
By the hand.
he was evidently In search OF the
rraudiin specimen before described. he
aimed 10 have Il out with his evident ac-
uuafrtance. Reading between the lines.
II was apparent that they had been IN
dispute before they boarded the train.
and like two Hl-natured ours. they begun
10 snarl and quarrel. and approach each
otner as you have seen dogs and cats per-
form On occasion
The poor woman became fairly desper-
ate. the children Wild-eyed and trembling
with anxiety. II both men had not been
overloaded with drink they would have
pitched IN ike hammer and tongs. But
the excited woman would jerk one man
down and push the other away with her
other hand at the same time She would
cry. Go off.'f-to one. and Behave your
self.r 70 the other IN the meantime that
little child cried as n fts heart was brok-
en-. A dozen people said to each other:
What a shame Il Is that the poor little
innocent should be In the hands OF such
q s0tl~
The desperate woman finally pushed,
pulled and showed her husband into the
seat nearest the window. and then she
lowered over him with a courage and
pertinacity that deserved a better cause.
she patted him on the shoulder, she
whispered n his ear. she pointed 70
passing scenes On the outside. and she
flashed her big eyes at the great drunken
giant who was seeking 10 get at her par
ticular sot. and the latter tried 20 con-
ciliate her.
hlear-eyed spouse. Go on from hereI
she would hiss al the pugnacious Intruder.
But there was no use In talking 20 either
The poor children. the three unfortunates.
were terrified spectators OF all Of. the dis
turbance. ! heard the man who was sit
ting down. crowded up into the corner by
his brave wife. blubber out. IN kill him.
shore and then I picked UP my belong
ings and went away back and sat down.
could not risk Il longer. The comedy was
becoming tragedy. and I was uncomf0rt-
ably near. so / left them 70 their fate,
ard was glad 70 get away.
A gentleman not far of then notified
the conductor and the latter had a time
% u 70 get the two sots apart and keep
the peace in that end OF the train. He
was. however. a brave man. and carrisi
on the giant into another coach, who
dragged that helpless little child along
behind him still sobbing and unhappy. The
whole crowded car had been made unwlll-
ing spectators OF the abominable expos
ure these besotted men had made OF them
selves. The actors were positively shame
less. Their red eyes. dripping mouths.
ard unkempt hair. told a story OF mis-
cradle homes. miserable children and ter
rible danger, because those men could
scarcely be restrained from attaching
each other. We were witnesses. ce-lainly
very uncomitable witnesses. % now men
can make themselves little lower than
the brutes.
wish somebody would tell me IL the
state has rot the right TO take the poor
child out Of the clutches OF that drunken
beast OF a father2 Must that little child
live its life out in such degrading associa-
ton and companionship? That poor inr
FAINT has not as much protection as a bird
IN the trees or a sand-hiu gopher. because
our legislators do look after our birds
and gophers; but does no man care for
the happiness. the protection, aye, the
life Of that little chIld2
Perhaps the little things mother was
dead To live with s-ch beast as that
man was enough TO l-ill ner outright, but
there was a universal decision that this
little tender-hearted child should be res
cued from its nard fate. with a dissent
ing voice among the passengers.
One person said. soto voce: Filing
them out cf the car. II Il kills the
wretches, II VIII be good riddance"-but
while every sober person felt imposed up
on BY the drunken actors IN this drama
Of human life. perhaps they viii finish the
mai scene very shortly for themselves.
by very soul was indignant that this
woman. the mother OF her children, there
present, should have had her pride 50
cruelty mortified and the holiest affec-
tons OF her nature so cruelty outraged
with no relief for her.
But she performed as II Il was nothing
rev IN her family. That half-grown lad
would pull with al his might 10 keep his
father down in hts seat. when the Liquor
Demon In him would make him Jerk hirr-