The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1903-01-22

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o. view whether 1t could have been
called a bad habit, but It had become
a habit, and Eddie Baxter was com
pletely Its slave. First he dallied with
1t occasionally, He did not have to
acquire the taste; 1t struck him as
rather pleasant from the first, still,
if he INDUCED himself once In two
weeks or so 1t was as much as he
particularly cared for. That might
have gone on much longer, or at
least merged by more imperceptible
gradatlons into the habit If he had
not left town for a month.
1t Is one thing to be near thing Of
that sort, where you know that II you
are In pressing need Of 1t you can
satisfy your yearning at almost any
time, and another to be miles away
from anything approaching the alto
gether superior quality Of the article
you have become accustomed to-.
Under these circumstances some men
will take what they can get and make
the best of 1t, but Eddie was not that
kind Of man. What there was In
Calamus Center did not appeal to him
in the least. He was conscious Of a
vague feeling Of uneaslness and empti-
ness all the time. He took 1t for
dyspepsia at first and endeavored to
overcome 1t by abstaining from the
hot biscuits that they served with
every meal and dosing himself with
some little white pellets that he pro.
cured at drug store, As these meas.
ures failed to afford him relief he set
1t down to the altitude and returned
home a week earlier than he ex.
pected.
Almost unconsciously his footsteps
strayed to the place where the potion
was dispensed and the draught that
he took was somewhat deeper than
any he had taken before, whereupon,
though he did not notice 1t at the
time, the feeling Of uneasiness and
emptiness left him and he went away
experiencing an unwonted exhilara-
ton. He ought to have realized the
nearness Of the slope Of descent-that
in fact, he was already upon 1t, when
within three days he returned for
more of the elixir; but for some time
after that even, he remained unaware
that 1t was not a thing he could, In
the customary phrase, take or let
alone" Other people noticed 1t and
began to wag their heads wisely;
some ventured to give Eddie a little
well meant advice, but he only laugh
ed at these sollcitous friends.
Shortly after that he tried 1t. 1t
had disagreed with him and he decid-
ed that he would be better off with
out 1t. He was restless and miserable
for three days, and the feeling of
uneasiness and emptiness returned to
him with tenfold force. Then he real.
lied that he had In truth got into the
clutches Of the habit and held a long
session of self-communion. Later
he unbosomed himself to a friend Of
experience and asked for his advice.
my son." said the person Of ex.
perience, gravely, a don't see that
you have any cause for worry, though
these moments of remorse are newt.
able. If you took hair off the dog
that has bitten you-in fact, several
halrs-I think 1t would do you good.
| have known that to answer in sew.
eral cases that have come under my
observation. | can not recommend
total abstinence, because | am pretty
sure that you would not be equal to
IT, Do you really want to quit?"
Tm not dead sure" replied Eddie,
frankly.
well, II you do, you can easily
enough, If you'll only allow yourself
time"
"That may be in some cases, but an
allowance Of eternity wouldn't affect
me. I'm sure enough Of that. That Is,
unless there was something else to
bring my will power into action. II
used to think that l had will power"
1.-THE longer most habits continue
the stronger they get" observed the
person Of experience, "but it's differ.
emit with this one. To begin with,
1t Is seldom well nourished after 1t