The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-11
BY wILLIAM r ELLIs

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
This is the day of most widespread
interest in the temperance movement
IN North America Even the drinking
man now aims to keep fully informed
upon this newly popular reform. In
the thick on the battle, 1t is worth
while to pause and contemplate the
life of one of the earlier champions of
the cause, John B. Cough, from whose
career many needed present lessons
may be drawn The following con-
densation of the outstanding facts of
Coughs biography is from the pen of
Amos r. Wells.
John B. Cough. perhaps the most
eloquent and able importance advo-
cate that ever lived, was born at
Sandgate, England. August %, 1917
The castle, and other romantic sur
roundings. greatly affected the boy.
His father was soldier. and his
mother a gentle schoolmfstress. His
parents were poor, and to better the
boys prospects they sent him with
neighbor to America His mother
marked passages in his Bible for him
to learn, especially the second, third.
fourth and fifth chapters of Proverbs.
He spent two years on farm In New
York. with no Sunday school or day
school, but joining the Methodist
church during a. revival. Seeking
advancement, he went. to New York
city with only half a dollar in the
world. Great poverty and many trials,
together with the ability to sing well
and tell funny stories, led Cough into
a life of dissipation. He became
drunkard and an actor. His first ap-
pearance in Boston was in the play,
departed Spirits, or the Temperance
Hoax in which DR.. Lyman Beecher
Eridiculed. Mr.. Cough married, took
up his trade of bookbinding, but fell
TO the most profound depths of in
Temperance, knowing all the horrors
iof delirium tremens. At one time he
stood on the railroad track with
bottle of laudanum at his lips. and
only the movings of the Holy Spirit
kept him from suicides end. The
kind words of a stranger, Joel STRAIT
ton, waiter in a temperance hotel,
persuaded Mr.. Cough to sign the
pledge. The drink demon and the
stratagems of saloon men caused him
10 fall twice, but he recovered each
time. through the kindness of friends
He began to speak for temperance IN
a humble way, but his great ability
was soon recognized, and he became
q temperance lecturer. speaking to
crowded audiences all over the United
States and Great Britain. His speak
ing combined the richest humor, the
tenderest pathos, the most powerful
eloquence, the most convincing argu-
ment. His autobiography and his
Platform Echoes are among the
strongest temperance books ever writ
ten. AFTER winning many tiAoosohoo
to a life of sobriety, he died. honored
by all the world, in 1885. No one can
read Coughs life without deepened
pity for the drunkard. and deepened
sense of responsibility for speaking
the kind words that may save him
from his awful fate. -
Law may be piled on law (and this
phase of the development of the tenn
perance cause is important and essen
in
suasion that is going to win the fight
for total abstinence. In the honey
phrase of temperance speaker, 1T
is most important for a man to close
the liquor business that Is located be-
tween his own chin and nose. The
old fashioned method. which was
Coughs, of securing personal sigma
lures to total abstinence pledges may
not well be abandoned. For 1t Is the
Individual resolution not to drink in
toxfcants that most effectually helps
20 destroy intemperance.
vsyhd ,RTfMl q TAOIFTAOINNN
A life may be made to count for the
utterly and unreservedly into a great
and unpopular cause.
sswrite 1t in the nations laws.
Biotting out the license clause;
Write 1t on each ballot white,
So II can be read Alright,
where there's drink, there's danger"
Frances e. Willard.
The last words of John B. Cough
were a dramatic appeal to youth--an
appeal, alas, which can not be realized
in its tremendous significance by those
who need 1t most. Cough was iectur-
ing in Frankfort, a Philadelphia sub
urb and he had just cried, dramatical-
ly. young man. keep your record
ciean!" when he fell over, never to
speak again. Into that sentence was
compacted the lecturers own bitter
which he would have given worlds to
blot out. Not only personal happiness
and peace are marred by the remem-
brance OF a stained past. but mans
liberty is hindered as we'll. The first
step of those who would swerve aside
q man from some noble reform. is to
examine his record, and to try to "get
a line on him." in the phrase OF the
street. Happy in that hour is the man
whose record is clean: who is not
afraid to let the whole world look into
his life from the beginning. There are
few elements of happiness and power
greater than this one OF q career I'M
sullied by the follies and sins of youth.
Blessed are the sympathetic for
they shall save themselves from CEN
seriousness and their fellows from sin.
1t was because he had been there"
that John B. Cough was able to appear
to the drinking man. without q trace
OF self-righteousness or pharisaism and
with wonderful winsomeness.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
Too low they build who build be-
meath the stars-Young.
X
Great trials seem to be necessary