Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-19
F1F, | XIII r. IT. vIovero the National Game

wards became his wife and my moth
er. She was of an old New England
family. and as her tastes were s1nll-
lar to my fathers they were ara WI
together. They were quietly married
a few months later at the home of the
American Ambassador in LONDON
From that moment until my mother
died, nearly four years ago, l don't
believe a more devoted couple lived
on earth.
This brings me down to painful
episode. Mildred-rhe only blot, the
only cloud in our family sky. Soon
after their marriage my parents de
cided to come TO this country TO live,
as there was nothing to keep them
permanently on the other side. Now
my father had been accustomed to
drinking light wines in Europe and
he had never tasted the stronger
drinks that are so much used in this
country. My father and mother had
hardly become established in New
York and begun a new life with their
friends when my father, without the
slightest apprehension of what the
consequences would be- began indulg-
ing in the strong drinks that mis-
friends were in the habit of taking
at their clubs and in their homes"
Gordon paused a moment before ne
continued.
Mildred, the results were terrify-
ing Strong drink made a beast of
my father He was like a raving
maniac while under the influence Of
it. In his right moments he was a
DR. Jekyl in his nature, but when he
drank he was a veritable Mr.. Hyde.
&c ha
did any Of the atrocities with which
the fictitious Mr.. Hyde is credited de
velop. but it seemed only a question
of time when something awful would
happen. My mother was heart
broken, but she loved with a devotion
that proved itself a thousand times
before and since. The story l am tell
ing you, Mildred, was told me once
by my father and once by my mother.
! am not going into all the details,
but am telling you enough so that
you can thoroughly understand
things.
Plans for Redemption.
This dark spot in my fathers life
lasted nearly three months. My moth
err was in constant fear that some
thing dreadful would happen. 1t was
necessary to take drastic measures.
She sent for my Uncle Andrew. He
was shocked at the story she told
him. A cablegram was dispatched to
my Uncle Peter in London and seven
days later he arrived in New York.
There was a family consultation, in
which my father, who by fOrcible
means had not been allowed TO touch
liquor for nearly a week, took part.
My mother and my two uncles were
IL -
problem before them
My father, who was the hndest,
most courteous and most considerate
man that ever lived, except for the
brief period of which l am telling
you, was his old self at this family
conference. He freely acknowledged
his terrible mistakes and begged for
giveness of his wife and brothers.
When it came to a question of what
should be done, it was my father who
made the suggestion that was prompt
ly carried out My mother jumped
at il. What my father believed would
be a great sacrifice on her part she
gladly assumed.
My fathers plan was this: AS he
/ believed it would simply be counting
destruction for him to remain in New
York, or any other city where the
temptation of strong drink was al
/ ways at hand (for in that terrible
! period he found himself unable to re-
sist it,, he proposed to take 'himseli
away from the haunts of men: to
! build himself a place away from
everybody and live there for the re-
mainder of his days. It was a dras-
! tic remedy, but the only thing to be
done There was nothing that need
| keep him in New York He had beer
brought up and educated to live q
| life of ease.
When my mother told me the
story she said she cried for joy wher
my father unfolded his plan to hel
and his brothers. The plan was adopt
| ed then and there and not a moments
time was lost in carrying it out Thai
| very night emissaries were dispatch
| ed to the South. One went to the
mountains of Virginia, one to Nortt
Carolina and one farther South
Within a week reports began to come
in and within a month this site was
| selected.