The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-16
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE Of INrEMPeRANcE.

chspisln Munro. Of the Tombs, New YorA
City, Tells Bow the saIoons DO the
Devils work.Ths Rosd 70 Ruin Of
Promising Young College Man.
I have wondered more than once how
any man who Is familiar with the annals
of crime in this city can say one word IN
it has become a well.known fact that the
gin mills make the criminals. During 1901,
the first year of the twentieth century,
there are said to have been % cases Of
homicide in this city. Nine-tenths Of these
can be charged, directly and indirectly, to
strong drink; not to speak OF several thou
sand cases OF fclonious assault, robbery,
burglary, grand larceny and scores OF
other crimes that can be laid at the door
of the modern gin mill. It 10 also tact
that often under the same roof the saloon
fosters the brothel, the gambling hell, the
dive and the poolroom.
I cite here only few cases from my own
personal experience showing the ravaSes
Of the saloon during the past few months:
But these are only 1.-THE Of tho cases
meet in my work among criminals. They
show that all classes Of the community are
affected more or less BY this monstrous
system. :,
A short time ago 0 young man, . grad.
vats Of one Of the leading Ne&, England
colleges, was found on the street helplesely
drunk. An ambulance was called and the
case diagnosed by the doctor - alcoholism!
His fond parents had given this young
man a classical and legal training. It cost
them small fortune 70 do 90. During the
six years which he spent within the walls
Of q Connecticut university he, unknown
to them, lived dissipated life. L was .
startling discovery they made, and, appar'
emily, it was too late to apply any remedy.
He had formed drinking habits ut college
with chums who were wild young men like
himself. On the day Of his graduation he
was full Hcdged confirmed drunkard!
He promised his people that he would rc'
form, but this 10 always easier said than
brokea. They found q position for him in
q large law firm In this city. Here he met
dislpated, irreligious companions like him.
self. He drank with them to excess, lost
his position and soon became o homeless
prodigal. he tried to secure employment
elsewhere, but nobody would have him
The last few months Of his downward ca
reer be played rag music on an old piano
nightly in q Tenderloin gin mill and dance
hall for drinks" and ten cents for lodging
ticket. After his arrest he was sent to jail
for brief time and then to the city hospi
tai for treatment. He was physical, men
tai and moral wreck. Strong drink had
ruined him. All that was left of him wa
q wasted life and a ruined character. The
only prospect he had for eternity was
drunkard's hell. -.
Do you ask how he became drunka-d!
I will tell you. =.
He began drinking cider in his father'i
cellar. His father and mother counter
anced this in the old homestead. They
saw nothing wrong in it. After while
the boy began to drink cider like hi
father. Many o pitcher of cider he stole
out of the cellar and drank with the hired
man.
He formed love for strong drink, and
during bis college years his appetite in
creased beyond bis control till he became
q drunkard.
How potent is the example of q parent
for good or evil.
There is young man in Sing Sing prison
ut the present time serving twelve.yeal
sentence for q awful crime committed
while in a state of beastly intoxication
How did he become drunkard?
That boys father was drunkard, and
many q time he came home to his wife and
children in o helpless condition. When
the boy was eighteen years Of age be wal
q drunkard also. He followed in his faith
er's footsteps. He thought il his father
could get drunk he had the same right
and he did so.-Chaplain Munro, OF ths
Tomhs Prison New York City.