The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-09-05
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OBSERVATORY
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Olden Alcoholic Customs and Remin



Olden Alcoholic Customs and Remin-
iScenses.
Many of the Sunday schools of Off
country. were last Sunday discussing
the subject of Temperance, which has
come to mean total abstinence from
intoxicating drink" and it reminded
me OF something I heard some years
ago; in fact it was almost 81 wears
ago. / had gone to Hartford, Conn,
to study. At that time Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe, author of the cele-
brated novel "Unc1e Toms Cabin -
was then living in that city; and her
husband also; she then had a reputa-
ton all over the English speaking
world. Her husband, Rev. Calvin
Stowe, d. D., was one of the most dis
tinguished New Testament Greek
scholars in this country. Although
then retired from active teaching in
Theological Seminaries, he was in
constant demand for public speaking
of various kinds.
1t was my good fortune to belong
to the same literary club with Dr..
Stowe In subsequent years, and come
to know him quite WELL He was a
most enjoyable companion, and full
OF the lore of the schols, colleges and
seminaries, and general ministerial and
church history of New England: and
was one of the most entertaining story
tellers l ever knew. Once when
travelling together l expressed nv
delight with his fund of such anec-
dates, he told me he had supplied Mrs
Stowe with such stories which she
had woven into her novels, Old Town
folks, Sam Lawson's Fire Side scenes.
etc.
Delights With Address.
IN the latter part of 1865 DR.. Stowe
was asked to give Temperance adj
dress in Hartford and his subject
was advertised as Sixty Years Ac-
quaintance With Rum and Reforma-
tion. He was stout man with a
large head covered with white hair
and full bushy white beard, out of
which sparkled kindly humorous ewes:
his manner of delivery was easv CON
versational, formed by small class
room talk. When he had been intro
duced and his subject announced he
began by saying Familiarity, "I am
s.xty-four years old and remember
distinctly being drunk when | was
tour years of age" That made the
audience sit up and listen.
reported for a Boston paper and
the notes / then made lie before me
as Al, write, yellow with age, but bring
the occasion wildly before me. He
went on to say that his father like ali
gentlemen of that time kept intoxicat-
ing liquors. in the house, and his
mother like most housewives of that
lay made "cherry-rum;" and on This
particular year the liquor being ali
trunk his father poured the cherries
over the pasture wall on the grass
where he found them, ate heartily of
hem and became beastly drunk" to
Use ms own words. Two years after
vards ne wen. out to the fields of the
arm 70 watch the workmen, and
about found their bottle
nder tree, drank freely of it and
vas drunk again.
Tried Tobacco Abstinence.
Some years afterwards he decided
, sign the temperance pledge, and
hen. he did so thought he ought toll
$50 leave off smoking, and told us
ow ne did it. He thought il would
easier to leave off gradually and
ne bought 10 cigars and took them
his room, planning to smoke half A
ne at time till all were gone: so
sat down and smoked one till IL
as half gone, but was not ready toll
zen stop. and so kept on smoking:
hole one; two; three; and before he
,t up from his chair had smoked the
hole TO- And said the Doctor
hat was the way I left off -
bly," ' 81 u
He decided for the gospel ministry I
profession, and went to the i