The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-12-23
THE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, 1915
HE FOUND IT EASY.

HE FOUND IT. EASY.
I am an ex-tank, a Reconstructed Vat. I've
been through Boozeland from Beer Swamp to
Lake Champagne. I've hunted the trans
lucent Cocktail and shot him for the cherry in
his heart, being hunted in my turn by the Rum
Hounds up and down Highball Hill Then one
day as staggered, painting, out into Never
Again Clearing the Water Wagon came rolling
along. Hop aboardr' cried old Col. R. E,
Morse from the drivers seat. I did so, and
with no further ceremony booked myself
through the Long, Dry Drive.
A contributor to cClure's, who de-
scribes himself in the above, language
writes a most interesting account of
his experiences before and after con-
quering the Rum Demon, and at this
season when the water wagon is due
to take on it's annual staggering load,
it is especially appropriate. !
He found swearing off easier than
he expected, and proceeds to demolish
the world-old belief, that at one time
was deeply rooted in his own mind,
that the biggest, hardest, fiercest
fight any man can ever be called upon
to make is the fight to escape the De-
mon Rum. While that belief was
rooted in his mind he resorted to the
"Cure," and Immediately upon dismis-
sal as cured, went across the street
to the nearest place and drank him.
self blind! Everybody pitied him, and
he pitied himself-not for being such
a coward and so weak-willed, but for
being a hopeless, helpless case. It
wasn't his fault!
One day, however, he did quit. 1t
was a case of must. Ruin, domestic
and professional, faced him on one
hand; while on the other was the aw-
full picture as painted by ex-Tanks
whose testimony he had ever read T.
the hideous struggle with a Demon
whose jaws were sabre toothed, whose
breath was fire, whose rage was un-
speakable, when he caught victim
trying to elude him.
The writer confesses that he dread
ed the attempt, but the fight had to
be made, and it was then that he dis
covered the big booze bunk. It hap
pened ten years ago, and he left home
that morning promising his wife not
to take another drink. About three
o'clock that afternoon, his work fin
ished, he started home, having stuck
it out that far. through the day. He
had no idea of getting through the
day without a drink, however, and
entered a cafe. The waiter came over
for his order, and it was then he quit.
Two or three friends joined him in a
few minutes, and he was asked to
take a drink. His determination was
oozing and he nearly accepted, but in
stead said, Nothing at all for me-"
after which he set himself for the
shout of surprise, and the sneering
EXPLANATIONS. But there was abso-
lutely no comment on his refusal. He
was staggered. 1t could not possibly
be that easy, Always in magazine
articles he had read one Of the first
incidents in the victims struggle with
the Demon was the sneers of his
friends on their being told that he
had quit. *;
It was that simple and easy, how
ever, and within few months he had
grown into a new environment. He
found that the dread he had felt about
being tempted never had any founda-
ton, although the people with whom
he foregathered were not all teetotal-
lers. ,.~.- FL.
Occasionally he visits his former
haunts, and bushes while old friends
deliver themselves of the usual bunk,
anent his nerve and will, knowing as
he does that there's no bravery in
sticking to a comfortable seat in good
company over a fine road, and that no
man is hero because he quits bad
proposition and takes up with a good
one. -,-
In conclusion he says: GAS regards
the Water Wagon itself, the scenery
and country it goes through, the peo-
pie with whom it brings you in con-
tact-well, take it from one who
knows -it's the Ideal Tour! Get
aboard!"
AZ |SIA m