The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-04-21
w. c T. U.COLUM u.
uaels sam Deeply oones,n,d

During the past week IL was
my privilege % meet and have q
chat with that very interesting
parsonage known TO the public by
the euphonious name of Uncle
sam. The old gentleman was I'M
a decidedly laxative mood and
managed 10 get some very impor-
tant facts from him which hope
may be as interesting 20 your
readers as they were 10 me
Our Uncle was sitting ini the
Rotunda of the National Capitol
when | met him. He had ON his
very best pairof striped breecheS
a clean Standup collar, his new
stars and stripes vest. and a Very
stylish swall0w-tail coat which ne
wears only on stated Occa-
sions. He was sitting in his easy
chair with his s%tove-pipe hat ON
the floor by his side and a paper
lin his hand. from which he had
evidently been reading something
that had made him exceedingly
thoughtful. As he saw me pass
ing with the crowd he beckoned
me to him and said he wanted
a little talk with me Glad of
the opportunity of meeting and
talking with the old gentleman.
whom we all revere and honor. /
excused myself from the friends
with me and went 10 his side.
Drawing up a chair he asked ME
10 be seated. and proceeded TO.
Introduce the matter he had i'm.
mind as follows:
Il have Just been reading In.
this paper which makes me eN-
ceedingly sad and don't know.
Just what ! ought TO do. Know
ing YOU as / do thought ! would
state the case 10 YOU and get
your opinion about it,. He then
proceeded 70 read 10 me the ac-
count of the killing Of Jim Mitch
ell a short time since in CincIn-
natti. jim was crazy drunk and
was making a big disturbance on.
the streets at the time he was
killed. One of the big burly
Irishmen who parade our streets
in the capacity OF policemen in
trying to place jim under arrest,
had dealt him a blow with his
club which had knocked the very.
life out of him and jim was dead
almost beforethe policeman knew
what he had done. Uncle Sam
was particularly affected with
that part Of the story of the kill
ing of Mitchell where the mother
of jim with tears streaming down
her cheeks tells about her dead
boy. She said. jim wasn't bad
only when he was drunk. When
he was sober he was good-heart-
ed. But when he drank he got
the old Nick in him. Drink Just
seemed TO make another boy out
Iof jim. / tell YOU it was drink
that was the cause Of il all. I'd
plead with jim time and again.
but il wasn't any use. He'd for
get everything had said 70 MIN
when he got 10 drinking
As Uncle Sam read this clause.
TO me his own eyes We're full of
tears. his voice trembled and he.
was scarcely able 70 control his
emotions. Pulling a large cotton
bandana from his hip pocket. ne
mopped his careworn face vigor-
Iously for several minutes before
he could proceed with the con-
yersation. finally he managed to|
say. What do YOU you think of.
this sort of work which is going.
on so extensively among my sub
jects in all parts Of this great
country of mine? Jim's mother
undoubtedly told the truth about
her boy. 1t was drink that
caused the mischief. DO you
think ought to allow my sub
Ijects to sell drink to their neigh
bOrs when it makes so much dis
turbance among them"
/ said 10 Uncle Sam. You know
lof course that | have always been
looked upon as a crank in regard
to this matter. and perhaps my.
opinion willnot havemuch weight.
with YOU" He assured me that.
i was nevertheless regarded as
conscientious and honest i'm my
It-fors-- anI d., rr--..1l A. f-l e