Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1908-06-12
SOLD HIS LAST DRINK
The Reform of John CIeary, One
Time RumSeIler. &
AN ADVOCATE OF TEMPERANCE

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AN ADVOCATE OF TEMPERANCE
'aSo q /
Former Saloon Keeper of Spokane to
Teach Young Men the Error of The
Way That Leads to the Barroon.
Tired Of sesina the. Evils Of Drink.
When the members of the town
council of Chelan. Wash. northwest of
Spokane. declared > that John, Henry
ueary had forfeited his liquor license
and closed his barroom few days ago
some of the early settlers believed he
would continue the traffic without the
sanction OF, either state. county or mu-
nicipalfty. Not so with Cleary. Though
he does not deny he sold all kinds of
concoctions to any man, white, black,
yellow and red. who had the price of
drink, during the last year, he OBJ
jeets to the term "bootlegging." More
than that. since the authorities have
declared he cannot sell liquor over the
bar he has decided to become an ad,
vocate of the cause of temperance
1--WE sold liquor in the Chelan coun
try nearly a score of years." he said,
but I'm finished now, and I'm going
to spend the remaining years of my
life in teaching young men the error
of the way that>leads to the barroom.
have accumulated some money, not
by robbing women and children, as
most of my. trade. up in the hills had
no home ties, but am going to spend
it where it will do the most good, and
I'll do it without brass band accompa-
uiment."
Cleary has never made statement
which he did not carry out; hence his
decision to espouse the cause of tenn
perance in its 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 1t was in his bar
room that the first religious services
were held at Waterville, when Elder f..
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 n moral proposition to the
frontiersmen,, but they were not slow
In taking up the plan of holding Sc
ries 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
can have this shsick as his place of
Worship. I'll have the boys fix it up
SO 1t won't jar the old mans nerves"
The offer was accepted In the spirit
1t 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 was composed mainly of
weather beaten men. with sprinkling
of high heefed. cowboys with clanking
spurs and sombreros. When services
were opened heads were uncovered,
smoking ceased. and the most respect
full attention was paid until the con-
clusion. when a member of the con-
gregation arose and in few telling
words suggested ''us fellers ought to
rustle a fen dollars for the old man"
t 4 hat was passed. and every man con-
tributed pieces of silver and gold with
a grace which prompts the conviction
that true Christianity is not wholly
confined to edifices with. the tallest
steepIes and that beneath. the toughest
garment there may throb noble
heart. ;.'s '@s5 #5< @ftst
Though CIeary continued to sell liq-
uor to his fellows. 1t cannot be said of
him that he was seen to take drink
after Elder White left Waterville.
Some time ago he mentioned to few
acquaintance that he was tired of the
traffic and. since the communities were
building up, and women and children
coming into the settlement. he saw its
evils. Ai ~ eH
'sThdt 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 l
am going to quit this business and
i've new life.'
But at no time until few days ago
did 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
Gold. II .ses ses4e.,s.. ..fg..fsr =