The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-10
THE OBSERVATORY.
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and amassed riches; he helped build
a church and its appointments, giving
largely to the funds; he was public
spirited and not only paid all his
taxes cheerfully, but did much be-
sides for village improvement. lie
had ability, and was put forward by
the political leaders and became the
lieutenant governor of his state; tor
those reasons he was asked to be the
president of a statewide temperance
organization. He had a large man
sion and kept open house and enter
tanned many strangers; | presume tor
the latter reason largely he had a
wine cellar we'll stocked; he had been
raised on a farm in the days when
everybody drank strong liquors, and
was himself moderate drinker." He
had a large family of boys, the Oldest
was very able and looked upon as a
sure prospect to succeed his father in
the big business; he married an eX-
cellent woman and had, when my
next door neighbor, five children. The
oldest was daughter, a class-mate OF
my wife in one of the Oldest and
greatest women's colleges; tall, at
tractive, with good mind and educa-
ton; the next child was son OF very
good physique, but not particularly
strong mentally, but an average boy;
the third child was only halt-bright
boy, a numbering body with no mind;
the third boy was weak physically
with rather a weak mind; the young
est child, another boy, had a bright
mind but a puny, ailIng body. Now
mark: the father of this family, the
| brilliant son of the governor was
taught to drink moderately" at his
fathers table with his fathers brill
LIANT company, but he had inherited a
stronger appetite than his father, or
less strong will; for he became i'm
moderately fond of wine and later OF
any kind of strong liquor, and as his
habit grew on him the degree of its
growth was marked in the deteriorat-
ing quality of his children; to one who
knew the facts il was as plain as the
scale of thermometer. This man
was a most attractive gentleman with
whom, when he was sober, it was al
ways pleasure to meet and converse,
but his habit grew so strong that he
could not be trusted with business,
and his family was finally supported
| by other members of his fathers
| ldlllIty anu al last lllCy Udu ~ dU-
solutely forbid his having credit in
the fashionable clubs which he fire.
quented in New York.
This mans youngest brother was a
very lovable lad, petted by all and too
much trusted by his father, who
would send him to the wine cellar to
| get his desired brand; the slumbering
appetite which he had inherited from
generations of strong liquor drinkers
in that country, was awakening; he
secretly took an impression of the
wine cellar key, went to the factory
and made one for himself, and by the
time his father learned of the fact,
had gotten a desire for choice brands
of wine thoroughly fastened on him
cornwall habits led him into loose So
ciety, and he became a moral rake
For some years he was at the head OF
the big manufacturing concern, but
gradually lost his grip, and by de-
grees his property; and only few
weeks ago the papers of an eastern
city had a column of news headed
"A Millionaire Become a Pauper,
and told of his degradation. and his
appearance in court in shameful suit
of law about his sons will, who had
just died after an unhonored life
Thus was extinguished the male line
kof the governor; those two sons were
of average ability and we can well
believe would have added luSter to
the family name except for the blight
of wine and liquor, and mind you il
all began with rich wine!
The governors associate with hin,
in business was a brother of fine
body and quick mind for business
and he was great church leader, a
good man; but his only son was
drawn into the same vortex with his
cousins, and when | knew him had
become so degraded that he had tc
be boarded outside the family with
what was practically keeper; each
night his shoes were taken from him
and he was locked in his room; but
once his appetite so ragged he broke
the window out and in his stocking
.eet walked in cold weather many
miles to neighboring city for a De.
bauch. In vain in the latter days The
father labored and prayed for his son
He was slowly dying with wasting
disease when called on him; he wa.
tine talker. man of large observa
ton and keen insight; while convers
ing he was suddenly seized with
spaSm OF pain and said to me Mr.. 0
please hand me that bottle" | sup
posed it was medicine as passed tn,
bottle to him, from which he took
generous dose. His only daughteI
was present, woman of more thar
ordinary mental ability, who has sine,
shone in the foremost literary anc
social circles of America and England
a..d as she accompanied me to tn,
der she almost Kissed between he
teeth, II should think these two fam
lilies had suffered enough for fathe
to let the whiskey bottle alone for
ever" That was the first l knew O
the bottle containing whiskey. Ever
on this good old man the appetite
, was strong when racked with pain
notwithstanding the wrecks in his an,
his brothers families And here i
another singular fact: have spokei
| of this latter mans intellectual an,
accomplished daughter; in the COVER
nor's family there were daughters
/, each one of whom married we'll, an,