The Mena weekly star., 1907-07-11

] am not CdpdDic ol '"o much on the subject of taking the first drink but to more fully illustrate ihe consequences of the smallest departure from the path of temperance and 10 show how little things become dangerously large I will quote a short story told by some one, of the awful leath of a convicted criminal, i, and will try 10 show the counee- ton betWeenit and the first drink. The story follov vs: i've stood apon one of the bluffs that line the shore of the Father of Wa tersn one beautiful June day, just before the sun had dropped behind the Western horizon, and watched one of those grand float ing palaces gliding down stream, freighted with human life. The passengers were happy in the en ioymeut of voyage where in all was delightful, and indulged in anlicipations of Us happy terml- nation, and of the glad welcome awaiting them from loving friends far away. But harkl fearful crash is heard. Screams o! alarm ard terror break the stiffness of that quiet hour. We look for the floating palace. Ii is sinking and passengers are leapiug overooard or climbing to the upper deck. The river is strewn with broken blanks and freight. The pilot has missed his course just little aud discovered 1t too late and the boat has struck a pier, cutting a broad slice off from stem tostern, carrying with one of her wheels and breaking all connection with the 8 eering apparatus. The boat is left 10 the mercy of the current which is rapidly sweeping ter down strea1 and she is swiftly sinking. In less than five min- ates the magnificent palace has gone to pieces and rests on the bed of the river. At the stern, a man, criminal in the hands of
 he law aud on the way 10 prison, has been chained. While the pas scngers are fleeing Tor safety to the upper deck he. is isst, The waters gather about hs leet as the boat is sinking. He cannot break the chain. The iron bolt viii not give way. He struggles tn his terror, in his dsspSrtiou he pulls hard to break away from his fastenirgs. The chain he cannot break. He cries for help. Oh, save mel help! There is none tC help, no one could help. In his agony, in his dispair, crying for help the waters closed over his head and he goes to the bottom chained fast"
 How terrible are the final con sequences of the slightest deparl- ure from the pathway of virture. How easily could the first step toward the final catastrophe have been avoided. The demon of drink wove a web around this devotee so quietly and silently that the poor victim knew it not until he arrived at the verge of the awful abJ ss which yawned to receive him. In his horror he awakened to behold the terrible fate that was looking him squarely in the face and iu bis desperation he made cue mighty struggle to break The bonds, lhe iron bonds that bound him, but the struggle was iu vain and he went 10 death because of hayiug taken the first drink.
 Another young man, who had. Just inherited 3 fortune, aud who was entertaining friend, had wine served, and the frierd re- marked: John, we cannot afford lo drink this stuff, we cannot af ford 10 begin the use of this liquid poison." Bni John said; "Pooh, pooh, l can drink t or lave il alone as please" But now his whole fortune in money. and his vIie, friends, reputation, all has gone 70 satisfy the demon s.