Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-08
MRS. JENKINS AND HER TWINS.
Tragic Tale Of the Work In One
House Of the Demon Rum.


excitement consequent 20 her final ex-
aminauons and her subsequent gradu-
alton. Port wine," he continued. is
perfectly harmless and will tone up
her system and In a month work
great cha sse." So the port wine was
purchased and given as directed, and
with seemingly excellent results
Such pleasant medicine" Alice pro-
nounced IL. and a second supply was
bought. aud after that was gone Alice
bought some more without her moth
er's knowledge. and every time she
was without 1t she had such an "all
gone" feeling that she thought she
must have some more. So all the fol
lowing winter, when the flush on her
cheek was such a rich crimson, and
the sparkle In her eyes so bright, none
dreamed that much of II was brought
there by the tonic so often taken, and
so skillfully hidden from the mother
who trusted her 50 completely. And
when Howard jenkins a most worthy
young man with a paying business.
asked her hand in marriage, having
already won her heart, her parents
consent was freely given. and none
dreamed that down in a corner of her
trunk, when she went on her wedding
Journey. was safely PACKED a bottle OF
port wine. At last. she herself began
TO see that she was becoming a slave
20 the habit, and she resoluteiy fought
II. and none but herself knew how
sore was the battle. but she con
quered. for time at least. TIL one day
her husband came home and found her
suffering from a chill, so he said, I'll
fix you some medicine" and prepared
a dose OF Jamaica ginger which she
took. and 10, the old demon was
aroused within her. and she took dose
after dose till IL was all gone. and
then bought more port wine. After
a while two beautiful babies were born
them-twins. a boy and a girl. and as
she was frail and weak. the physician
sanctioned her taking port wine to
build her up" She took il more and
more often until at last the fact could
no longer be disguised from the loving
eyes Of the husband or the sneering
ones OF the servant that she was very
often far under the influence of the
awful stimulant. Sometimes IL made
her gay and hilarious, and at Others
stupid and foolish. She tried once
more To fight the appetite; but IL hac
taken deeper root than before. till at
last one awful day, the husband aud
father was summoned from his place
OF business 20 find his house on Ere.
his wife terribly burned. the charred
body OF his baby girl taken from the
FIRE, and only the baby boy unframed
When Alice recovered from her awfu.
burns, she told how she had taken
more wine than usual and had fallen
asleep with the babies AT her side. and
awakened TO ind the nre raging and
the one baby past help. 4 saddened.
remorseful woman. she again took her
place In her home. and never did an
other drop OF anything containing al.
cohol pass her lips. When her hus
band sought 10 comfort her. she would
say in heartrending tones, oh, n
could only undo the past, and BRING
my baby back" And then she would
add. II only you had not given me
that jamaica ginger. / believe never
would have cared for the port win.
again" Her husband would tell ne,
that they had their boy left, and they
would plan as 10 how carefully they
would bring him up. and never let him
taste any OF the awful stun. and dared
20 hope he would grow up 20 be "a com.
fort 70 them in after Years. The boy.
Ralph by name. was very bright. and
a fine scholar, but OF very nervous
temperament When he was II he had
pneumonia. and az the crisis OF the
disease the physician said he could
not 1--we unless he gave him alcoholic
stimulants 10 tide him over. So
against the wishes OF the parents. the
nurse acted according 10 the hysi.
clans orders anu gave the sdmu.ant
He recovered; bat the very demons
of hell seemed aroused within him In
thirst for liquor. thirst that would
not be denied, and night after night ne
was brought home 10 his asOniZed par
ents drunk, They sent him 10 cures"
and inebriate asylums, with but EN-
porary recover; and the verdict OF
each physician was, He seems 10
have Inherited the appetite; IL seems
70 be a very part of his bone and It's
inherited the appetite from me-" At
last he seemed 10 have lost all VIII
power, and unless stupefed from the
effects OF liquor. would become first
moody and salky. and afterward
threatening ana dangerous, until at
last after hayins more than one at
tack OF delirium tremens, his reason
seemed wholly gone. it was found
necessary 10 SEM him TO an ASYLUM
for the incurably insane. and there he
is now, a wretched. hopeless maniac
at IS. while his father and mother
more wretched than he. sit by their
desolate hearth, surrounded by every
luxury that money can buy, yet old be
fore their time, and more sorrowful
than tongue can tell SO they say 10
me. Tell our story 10 the world. write
IL that Others may be warned. thar
never by physicians prescription or
by home treatment shall others suffer
as we and ours have done."--Mrs. Joel |
o. Turney. IN National Advocate.
Why Not2
McLnbberty (sourly) -Thotu do! OF |