The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-02-14
SOLD HIS LAST DRINK
The Reform of John C|eary, One
Time Rumse||er.
AN ADVOCATE OF TEMPERANCE

Way That Leads to the BARRON
Tired Of Seeing the Evils Of Drink.
When the members Of the tow.
Council of Chelan, Wash, northwest O
Spokane. declared that John Henri
Cleary had forfeited his liquor licens
and closed his barroom a few DAYS az
some of the early settlers believed h
would continue the traffic without tn
sanction of either state, county or mu
~nicipality. Not so with Cleary. Thougl
he does not deny he sold all kinds O
connections to any man. white, black
yellow and red. who had the price O
q drink. during the last year, he Oh
jects to the term 'bootlegging." Nor,
than that, since the authorities hav,
declared he cannot sell liquor over tn,
bar he has decided to become an ad
vocate of the cause Of temperance.
"Tve sold liquor in the Chelan coun
try nearly a score of years. he said
'but I'm finished now, and I'm 9oina
to spend the remaining years of my
life in teaching young men the error
OF the way that leads to the barroom
l have accumulated some money, not
by robbing and children, as
most Of my trade up in the hills had
no home ties, but l am going to spend
1t where it will do the most good, and
III do it without brass band accompa.
niment."
Cleary has never made a statement
which he did not carry out; hence his
decision to espouse the cause of TEN.
perance in it's best sense is looked
upon as being genuine by those who
know him intimately. The man helped
make much of the history of the Che
Ian country, and it was in his bar.
room that the first religious services
re>held at Waterville, when Elder +.
White of Atlantic, Ia, came into the
northwest to preach the gospel to the
freighters and miners eighteen years
ago last February. The coming of the
elder was a moral proposition to the
frOntiersmen, but they were not slow
in taking up the plan of holding a Sc
r1es of religious meetings.
1.-The sky pilot Is welcome to our
midst, boys said Cleary when several
Of the miners told of the elders pre-
dicament in not being able to find a
suitable place to hold services, land he
al have this shack as his place Of
worship. III have the boys fix it up
SO it won't jar the old mans nerves."
The offer was accepted in the spirit
It was made, and a short time after
ward Elder White announced he would
speak in Cleary's place. The barroom
was thronged every night during the
elders stay in Waterville. The con
gregation was not such as ordinarily
finds its way into the cushioned sane
tuary. but vas composed mainly of
weather. beaten men. with a sprinkling
Of high heeled cowboys with clanking
spurs and sOmbreros. When services
opened heads were uncovered.
smoking ceased. and the most respect
full attention was paid until the con-
cluSioD. when a member Of the con-
gregation arose and in a few telling
words suggested Jus fellers ought to
a few dollars for the old man"
A hat was passed. and every man con-
pieces Of silver and gold with
a grace which prompts the conviction
that true Christianity is not wholly
confined to edifices with the tallest
and that beneath the toughest
garment there may throb a noble
Though Cleary continued to sell liq-
uOr to his fellows, it cannot be said of
him that he was seen to take a drink
after Elder White left W%aterville.
Some time ago he mentioned to a few
acquaintances that he was tired of the
traffic and. since the communities were
building up and women and children
into the settlement. he saw its
evils.
THAT old preachers words stirred
up memories of my boyhood days in
New England and the words my dear
old mother spoke to me-" he once said
IN confidence to a close friend. and |
am going to quit this business and
i've a new life"
But at no time until a few days ago
lid he give the least intimation that he
would preach the gospel of temper
ance, for which he is so amply quail
fed by his long experience in seeing
the evils and sufferings wrought by
strong drink.-Spokane Cor. Banner Of
Cold