Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-02
Gro BE CoKr1Nurp.l
A TEMPERANCE FANATIc.
story OF the Heart-Rending ENpe-
.rfence Which Made One Woman IA
Relentless Enemy of saloons.

j have just returned from the most
remarkable temperance NEE ting ever
attended. 1 have just listened TO the
most remarkable temperance address
ever delivered. The speaker was
woman that l knew five years and
more ago as frail, diffident creature.
but with a lofty spirit and passionate
earnestness. In fact, it was just five
years ago tonight that 1 sat with
her in her modest sitting-room in
East Lynn, when the great tragedy of
her life reached its climax. That was
before she was known as Mrs. Went
worth, the Temperance Fanatic. That
was before she moved strong men at
will by her peerless logic and her
wonderfully sad-sweet voice.
1 remember well the scene In her
sitting-room that early autumn even
| ing. Two beautiful children, a boy
! and girl, chung to her side as she
sat in her low willow rocker and en-
tertained me with her bright talk
while a happy Sight played on her
face. She had married rather young
at twenty-Jack Wentworth, free
hearted, careless fellow, two years
! older. Somehow she never discov-
cred until after they were married
! that Jack was fond of his glass oc-
casionally; and when she did discover
it, though il gave her little pang of
regret she set about bravely to rem
edy the matter, with never a fear but
what she could keep her young hus-
band from his growing habit.
! But, like many another woman, she
failed Jack did not care, as he once
did, TO do thing simply because 1T
pleased her; he wanted his own way
now. and he had il. The coming Of
the two babies stayed his downward
course for a time. but he was soon
drinking harder tbSn ever.
| The little home, once 30 happy,
showed traces of The pinehinE fingers
| of poverty. Often there was very
little TO eat, and In the cold days of
winter sometimes no fuel for the
kitchen stove.
Poor Jack waS drinking heavily.
He never was really brutal TO his
family, but he seldom came home
sober. and often IN surly mood.
But the poor man was not the only
one to blame. He had inherited a
weak will. and he was Sorely tempt
! ed and as sorely fell.
But one night there came 8 change,
and Jack came home sober. He had
been 10 a new place. About nine
O'Clock, as he was going up Union
street, he heard singing in the St.
Paufs Methodist church, and stag
! gered up to the door. An evangelist
was holding a Apecial meeting. The
I sermon was over, and the eongrega-
ton was singing a hymn. AS Jack
| reached the door he heard them sing:
| "Just as am. and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
| To Thee whose blood can cleanse each
spot
o Lamb OF God. come. conner
| Up in front the evangelist and the
pastor were urging the Gospel invi-
tation without apparent success.
"H you're a sinner and need q
Savior, Jesus Christ can save you to-
night. VIII you conner" pleaded the
evangelist.
"I1I comet shouted Jack, and
marched down the aisle to the plat
form There was a buzz and a rustic
all over the church. Some thought
less girls giggled, and an old PhariSee
frowned, but the men of God on the
platform climbed down to meet the
prodigaL
Gould lie save me, mister?" asked
Jack, in saner tone and manner.
do Yoa think he could save me,
sure?''
Sure" said the evangelist. He
came into the world to seek and save
the lost"
That's me, guess" said Jack. IT
want Him to save me if He can do it
! right off now. can't wait. I'm in
a hurry. I've got to get home"
The evangelist laid one arm across
the poor fellow's shoulder and spoke
to him earnestly in Low tone. In a
moment or two they were kneelinp
side by side, and one was pouring out
his heaxt to God for his wayward
brother, and Jack, himself, was sober
enough TO sob Hike child and TO can
on God for mercy.
That was the beginning of a new
life. BE went into church that night
pitifully drunk, but he came out
sober, and with a strength and a viii
| beyond his own he persevered until
1 tShCAC was III the little
home, and Annie and the children
had q husband and father worthy
of the name.
A few months after his conversion
the "no-hcense" vote of the previous
December went into effect, and for
once In Lynn the law was pretty well
enforced. There were no really open
saloons, and so no faring temptations.
Under the circumstances Jack found
st. easier to resist his old appetite,
which, even now, occasionally assert
ed itself. But the city liked so well
no open saloons that she voted mo-
for two more years. In an evil day,
however, the city elected a mayor
about whose temperance convictions
livery little was known, and under his
| administration and that of his at,-
lpoantees the city marshal, rum was
sold freely and almost OPENLY. This