Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-29
A Life Story

Dear Miss Thomas: l have long been reader
Household department and Mrs. Feltons bril-
liant articles. Your Chat on whisky in Florida
was fine, May the better element succeed In
voting il out OF the state.
Del Rose. / also live in south Georgia but
formerly lived in middle Georgia. Would be
glad TO know you personally. l indorse all
you said on the subject Of card playing.
I will relate Rev. II. f. Kilgore's experience
on that line. He ran away from his virginia
home at the age OF Is. thinking he did not
have the liberty ~ he deserved He landed
in Cincinnati. Ohio. almost pennless, homesick,
but afraid TO return. In looking for job he
met the manager Of detective service, 10
whom he apprenticed himself seven years. As
the papers were signed. binding both
parties, the hOmesick boy was asked where he
preferred to board Brought up, as he was,
around family altar, he thought first Of the
religious phase OF his future life. While his
peOpe were Baptists he remembered to have
heard his mother say that the Presbyterians
in that community were trner 10 their church
than any other denomination, so said:
I'D rather board in a Presbyterian family
In a little time ID was arranged. and he
found himself seated in a family circle of five.
Supper announced. but he choked up as
his thoughts wandered back to his virginia
vows than any other denomination SO he said:
call the girls sisters, and Walter. brother. but
this not very consoling to boy whose
heart was crying 10 see mother. In the midst
of suppressed tears. however. was the sweet
Thought that he would soon be permitted 10
join the family in worship. This he hungered
for.
Supper
the fire. and the old family Bble-nO. no!
deck of cards thrown upon it! The group
gathered about st. Of the young ladies'
saying Maybe the young man will Join us?''
mo" said be. Il don't know one card from
another. My folks are all Christians and don't
play cards"
''oh.' said the attractive young lady; I'VE
are all Christians. too. We all belong to the
church."
Poor girl, She did not seem to know the
difference between church membership and
M IN prSh N no kingdom
Frank asked for bis room and cried himself
to sleep. lie said that during the five Years
in which they did not play cards, but none IN
which they read from the old Book and prayed,
On occasion the brother and one or the
sisters took a trip to Dayton. ohio which left
the number Of players small The favorite
girl urged Frank 10 play; she proposed TO teach
him. He had already learned to love her, so
he yielded and a few nights were enough TO
fascinate the boy. In short time ne and MS
enehantress could beat any two In the home.
One day when father and mother were away,
Walter asked Frank 10 20 across to the barroom
and take a game. He said: NO don't 20
to such places" Walter explained that Their"
was a partition. They went, and Walter tap
ped a gong when two men walked out. They
played a four handed game with these men
and won. The gong tapped, when out came
four "schooners' Of beer. Frank was hOrr1fied,
and for the first time he swore; he cursed
Walter for pulling him into gambling, arose
and went to his room.
walter soon followed to beg him not TO let
his father know he frequented that place Frank
got on his first drunk in that vile place. From
this small but sad beginning fearful harvest
came He became drunkard and gambler
often manipulating cards with one hand while
holding a cooked revolver under the table with
the Other having determined to have the pile
or take the mans life. He also became
prize fighter, committing the sins which follow
In the wake Of pugilism. He had great in
fluence over young men and often led them
away from the right
He often said that he knew no one on earth
but that young lady back In that Cincinnati
homo could have induced him TO try 10 learn
10 plav cards He loved her and did il for
her sake And that deeply as he respected
her he believed in way she would he
tangled up with all the sins which card playing
led him into He was later converted and en-
gagged i'm evangelistic work.
Love to all the Household.