Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-09-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

DRUNK MAN ADDRESSING A TEMPERANCE MEETINCL—On Monday night, many inhabitants of Middlesbrough witnessed the rather i oval, and certainly, very amusing spectacle of a drunk man addressing a temperance meeting. Two gentlemen were lecturing on the subject of temperance to a large assembly. in front of the Town Hall, Marketplace, when a man, who had evidently just emerged from the shrine of Bacchus, and whose personal appearance seemed anything but prepossessing,. ascended the rostrum, and, unceremoniously fmterruptitig the lecturer, announced his intention of delivering an address. The temperance lecturer, however, nothing daunted at the interruption, proceeded, :ouch to the chagrin of the nev•-emeer, In, lb( coanniencen a series of grimaces, causing the a ietience an immense degree of amusement. Seiiig that the drunk man was attraetbig the largest share of attention, the temperance lecturer requested him to go down. This was too much of a good thing for the would-be lecturer to suffer, and he immediately expressed his extreme displeasure at such a mode of treatment, shouting at the top of his voice—'' When you hive done I wish te deliver the sentiments ca, my noble mind." This eloquent expression was greeted by the crowd assembled with a tremendous outburst of applause. The son of temperance replied that their friend's sentiments were unknown to those present, but the nobility of his mind, he had no doubt, were known to them all. He proceeded to state that the present meeting would adjourn to the chapel in Stockton-street, when the intoxicated friend, in husky tones, said, " Hear, hear ; and I'll send you a terrible audience when you have done." He then began to deliver what he chlled his " address," the first sentences of which were to the following effect :—" I have read in the history of Roane, in the history of Greece, and in classical ' history, of sonic of the grandest characters that ever actuated human society—(applause)—noble and beautitul scholars—(cheers)—splendid philosophers (these words were delivered with a terrible emphasis), and nibble poets; and yet there was no dream of teetota isni then. N • it was when men got into such a deplorable, low-born state that they were not able to take half-a-pint withou't sticking their heads into a barrel and committing suicide. (Great cheering.) I need not be brief. You have been invited to attend a certain meeting in Stockion-street, while I have to speak on behalebf the war. (Applause.) Yes (addressing the temperinee lecturers); I came here, gentlemen, to speak about the wan( Here the sons of temperance informed the speaker that be was trespassing upon their platform, and that he must either keep quiet or leave. This did not seem to be relished by the . crowd, who were highly amused wlth the eloquence of the new-comer. The latter thereupon exclaimed, "Gentlemen, since the platfoim belongs to the teetotallers, I- will coi.ne downstairs and address you." He then left the platform but having taken up a position obstructive to the traffic, he was ordered home by the police. The temperance lecturers having concluded theft- addresses, sang a temperance song and proceeded to their meeting in Stockton-street.