New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
FIRST PART.

FIRST PART.
The song had gone out OF her life.
She thtrstec for love. he thirsted for liquor.
And they had been married only three years
bright man was Caleb Webb-an exceed
irgly br3gh. man, and he was rapidly scaling
the rampant oG success when the Rum God came
10 halt him.
Webb was a newspaper mana forceful
writer with a wide range Of knowledge. great
adaptability TO circumstances and delightfully."-
broad view OF men and things generally. When
ever he had anything TO say he knew how TO
say II in the most effective way.
He remembered what many writer's 10
torEet-that straight line is the shortest dis
tance between two points. When called upon
TO state fact or an opinion he always aimed
ct something definite and generally hit the
mark
!5est Of all. he had thorough knowledge OF
the practical side OF newspaper work-the prep
aration OF copy, the correction of proofs. the
making up CT the forms the handling OF dis
patches and the thousand and one details which
every newspaper man IS supposed TO know, but
which many OF them never learn.
Indeed. often wondered why gifted men like
Webb would cling with grim tenacity TO
business in which. generally speaking. there
more kicks than kisses. more debts than dol
lars more hardships and disappointments than
There is 4 popular impression that the men
who make the newspapers lead an idyIlic X
istence-that the life of a newspaper man IS
marked by hours Of Joy. weeks Of transport and
years of ecstatic content. But how few take
account Of the other side of the picture-the
resistless tyranny Of work. the ceaseless drain
upon the brain and the body.
OF course. journalism has its compensations.
and 70 lose them after having worn the harness
Of newspaper office for any length Of time is to
lose IN a large measure the Joy Of living.
For several years Webb had been the star re-
porter on his paper. Whenever an especially
difficult assignment was TO be covered. whenever
a particularly fine piece Of descriptive writing
was TO be done, the office could always bank on
Webb.
But at the time OF which write Webb was
becoming a trife unreliable. He less
punctusl III his attendance at the Office less in
cheerful
There were days when the brilliancy which
usually characterized his work was utterly lack
ing, and the star reporter failed 10 rise above
the commonplace.
In his personal appearance too. marked
come duh and languid: the steady hand too
often trembled; the bloom Of health migrat-
his nose
The fact of the matter was Webb drank.
You often hear expressions of wonder why
men OF exquisite sensibiiity. men highly edu-
Gated and refined. fall prey TO a merely
sensual qualification like liquor
They know little. however. Of human nature
who do not see that this sensitive temperament
IS itself a cause OF danger
Those nerves finely strung-win they not
vibrate to every touch alike impure and holy?
Those senses exquisitely formed that a
thousand tribes of sunset of melody have for
them charm which coarser natures never
feel-will they not throb readily at the excite
ment Of mere earthly pleasure?
That deep yearning after mental exaltation-
VIII il not urge the best OF along until bitter
experience has taught US that thraldom to drink
leaves behind no richer fruit than disease that
wears the body and remorse that fortunes the
soul?
Like many another stronger man, Caleb Webb
was vain enough TO believe that he could shake
of he yoke Of the Rum God before the day of
retribution arrived He was vain enough TO be-
lieve that he could indulge his inexorable appe-
tite for strong drink sparingly and with reason.
Whisky brightens up the intellect he used
TO say 1t composes and stimulates the tagged
out brain II calls back forgotten ideas. It
RIGS"
But he neglected to mention the aftertaste Of
bitterness which sooner later comes to all
upon whom the Rum God has cast his malignant
spell.
And Webb's Wife?-What of her?
Poor, patient, little thing With wornan's in
tuition she clearly fnresaw the end Of Il all.
And that IS why the had gone out of her
life