The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-08

4 man and little sixsycar -oid boy were
seated ON the outer steps OF a prominent
church in Richmond. The church was closed
and the father of the little boy had taken
advantage of the inviting seat to rest his tot
tertnx limbs, for he was drunk The poor
little boy tugged at dads coattails and begged
him to come and go home" and the
saloon victims drousness began to. come on,
the child credi The graceful spire of the
sacred edihce rose high in the air. but in it's
shadow were many saloons, licensed by law
for revenue and casting their dark shadows
over the homes of sweet innocent women and
little children. And the public conscience Is
appeased by reducing the number of saloons"
a good women received intinaton that a
family in need They had been in good
circumstances and We're 10th to thrust them
selves on the charity of the public. Entering
I the humble home the visitor recognized at once
that there refinement there. There were
evidences OF a brave battle to keep everything
neat and orderly, but the furnishings were
scant. The fact ELECTED that the husband
and father had taken to drunk and at that
time was on protracted spree. He had even
taken necessary comforts of the household and
sold them to buy whiskeyt Have you any
fuel?' asked the visitor of the brave, suffering
little woman The reply was. We'll, since
you ask me l must tell you the truth. I have
only one block of wood in the house,. just
then little bright-eSed. chubby-faced. bare
footed hoy emerged from the adjoining room
the door between the rooms having been ajar--
and exclaimed. Yes. We have, mama, ou dot
two hooks tause me done found one more!
This IA royal find for that poor little boy.
while the great city of his nativity doesn't "nnd"
more boys and make for greater peace by closing
the saloons TO be sure, this in charitable
city and cry of distress goes unheeded
but. all why. why will the people not that
the saloon Is the cause Manner. means and
instrument of the misery and woe that COM
mands this assistance.
And let 1t not be imagined that these dark
some pictures confined to the homes OF the
poorer classes. This liquor curse ahounds in
high Hfe-yes.- very much -in-yery- high
iife." There are tears and signs of which the
world is ignorant: They are shielded behind the
conditions that wealth and weil-to-do maintain.
the clink of the punch bowl glasses In many
a home is echoed in the saloon and there Is
many aching heart after the BAH is overt"
No one Is so rash as 10 say that every family
In which the social drinking customs obtain
meetn with Il calamity but many of them do
and there is In many gilded home!
beautiful young woman rushed from her
companion and went sobbing indoors with the
wall of despair Papa Is drinking again"
When her papa took to his cups his spree
protracted and there was sunshine in that
home Of excellent appointments SOMEBODY
cares and somebody is trying to check the good
mans downward tcareer, but his saloon daily
does business at the old stand,
Society's punch bowls In large measure
feeders OF the saloon. Many q jewelled
maiden fair has innocently dealt out the seeds
of ruin and death to young manhood she
filled up and passed the chalice of good cheer!
Mourn for the thousands slain,
The youthful and the strong:
Mourn Tor the wine cups fearful reign
And the deluded throng
But do do take 1t out in lamenting' Get busy
in reforming the conditions. and
he strong
II matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not, fight, on! To morrow comes the song,