The Washington times., 1925-09-02
New and Amazing Serial Describes One
Mans Long But Losing Battle
:: for Freedom

I came very near being left be-
hind. when I got off at Bridge
port, and 1 was obliged to take
bottled beer instead OF whisky.
. The little saloon across the street
from the station into. which I
rushed sold only wines and beer.
At least, so the bartender in
<ormedl me. Il told him / was
passenger on the fast train and
had but a moment, and he hast
lily wrapped half a dozen bottles
of beer into a newspaper.
The train was moving as 9 1
,clambered aboard, brakeman
accommodatingly leaving the plat
form up and helping me get on
when he sawme come racing.
was all out of breath, and was
not on the car in which we were
travelling, but several cars back.
The thought of traversing all
those cars with a newspaper
bundle under my arm was dis.
tasteful to me, but know moth
or would be frantic, not knowing
whether I had caught the train
or not. Of course, had my mind
been clear 1 should have handed
the package to a porter and had
R.3x., - I'd
But / never thought Of that,
and started on my swaying jour-
ney.
Distinctly I heard persons say.
There he goes Isn't it disgrace
FUR as I passed, until wanted
to run.
ITO make matters worse, as
was passing through the third
car the bottles worked loose in
the paper, and one dropped to the
floor and rolled under a lady's
seat. Instead of ignoring it 1
tried to retrieve it, and two more
bottles escaped. 1 tried to catch
one as it was falling, and knock
ed it into the lap of dignified
elderly gentleman. He had been
reading a newspaper, and when
be felt the thud in his lap and
looked down to see a bottle Of
cheap beer staring at him he
nearly collapsed. While I was try
ing to apologize to him the other
bottles got away from me.
Fortunately the floor was thick.
" carpeted. 1 stood there in the
center of that .swaying car, mad,
mortified, miserable. Some Of
the passengers were smiling,
others frowning. &
/. still had one lone bottle un-:
der my arm and was strongly :
tempted to desert the others and
go on when the porter came to
my rescue. He gathered up the
bottles and steered me into the
mems room at the end Of the {
car, where he wrapped them SCI
curely and then accompanied me
to my own seat, two ahead.
A Promise to Reform
My mother was very much re- >
heved to see me. She had just
about concluded that 1-had been
Jeff behind at Bridgeport. The
porter lowered, and asked him
IL he had an opener. He took
one from his key ring and gave
It to me. I must have been feel.
ing entirely desperate and indif-
ferent, for 1 deliberately opened
one Of the bottles and drank the
contents publicly, not even ask
ing for a glass;. The other pas
sengers looked like refined peo-
pie, and was converting the
car into a cheap guzzling place.
We arrived in Boston at
o'clock and took a taxi out to my
aunt's. Prudence was not at
home. ] was put to bed in a
spare room and a doctor was
business. In three days was
: back on my feet, eating well and
with no trace. Of alcoholism re-
naming.
When mother decided to return
to New York on the fourth day
I accompanied her to the station,
my eyes clear, my step firm, in
every way normal again. She
seemed quite happy.
at believe this is where you be-
long, among your own people,"
she declared at the last moment.
81 shall try to get back next
week. / have a little plan in
mind. Don't drink unless you
positively have to until you see
me again"
II hope I shall never touch
another DROP" / declared earnest
Ga "A ~