The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-08-01
Every Drunkard Was at
One Time a Moderate
Drinker.
JAMES j. CORBETT OWES
HIS LIFE TO ABSTAINlNG
Once Champion Pusiliss Has Not
Touched Liquor In FEARS
BY JAMES J.. coRsEu.

My lecture on temperance given be-
fore the Whitestone branch Of the
woman's Christian Temperancef union
has caused lot Of amusement among
my friends, They seem to think II
strange that pngilist should talk on
temperance
don't think there Is anything funny
about it. A great many people think
that because a man Is a pugilist ne
must certainly be a drinking man.
That Is q false Impression
know 4 great many pugillsts who
do not drink. aud one Of that class Is
James J. COrhett.
Take good look at me I viii be
forty-seven years old next September.
I know don't look 1t, for I am taken
for thirty-five or thirty-six every day.
How do do it, Temperance and
clean hvine-that's the answer.
Last October Was stricken with
appendicitis. carried out OF my hotel
in Philadelphia to a hospital. where
they examined me and found that my
appendix had broken and peritOnitis
had set in. The surgeons said would
not live through the night Well. here
l am alive and well again
During my convalescence asked
the doctor what pulled me through
Your wonderful constitution and Vi.
tality.- be replied
You are not a drinking man. are
your the doctor asked
NO said
i thought not be returned IF
you had been y01 would be . dead
man today
In the Nevada bank 10 san Fran.
cisco in which was clerk the vice
president was a drinking man. When
! first noticed him be was only 4 very /
moderate drinker. but each year be got |
to drinking more and more until the
sixth year. nv last In the institution
before leaving 10 berome q pugilisf. i
That year he was drinking heavily.
Many times at the solicitation OF the
mans wife went around to dives In
San Fraucisco and took aim home
This Of course did not set very good
example to the clerks In the hank.
who were naturally inclined 10 hook
up 10 and emulate . man occupying
50 important position.
About fifteen years after I left the
hank I was sitting In my cafe on
Broadway. In New York. one night.
when in staggered an intoxicated man.
very seedy In appearance and with dis
heveled hair and bloodshot eyes. He
called out. Hello. Jimmy Corhett.-
went up 10 him. hooked closely AZ him
for several moments and was horrined,
to recognize In that besotted creature
the man who was formerly vice presi-
dent OF q larce hank and possessed
Of comfortable fortune. The poor
fellow was completely down and out.
I gave him some money. and haventl
seen him since
Any man who would not profit hyl
an example Of that kind must bel
crazy. II certainly was wonderful
lesson 70 ne. and have never tzkenl
= drink since that night had occa-
sionally taken glass OF bier OF wine
before that. but now am . teetptaler.
Have ] any message for the younel
men % todays Yes- and here Il iss
Young men. never take the first
drink know thar 4 takes . lot -
neral eoarass fer . yesna man ~hs
has Just 6o@S\ts great say scd =
ssirs cat with friends 70 refuse insi-
tations - drink ne . called . Ruos
and sssst numerically. hut q Ne en-
sreisss ths neral essrass 10 refuse 70 {,
ssseh tire stun ne ~iii esnsrataiass
Ainsslf lats-s