Show iJ I f Communications Communication cat ons i 6 e 3 THINK BEFORE TO TOU rou U BOWL The meeting was over Dr Mathews had eloquently pictured in the darkest colors the horrible effect of on the human race in general and the drunkard in particular The auditors were leaving with nothing but milk honey and prohibition on their minds The married women were determined to give their respective husbands a curtain lecture before retiring the girls made up their minds that they just wouldn't marry anybody anybody anybody any any- body who would drink anything stronger than buttermilk and the boys all swore off till next pay day The loiterers were standing in small groups discussing the merits and demerits of the lecture when a atall atall atall tall slim loose-jointed loose spider-monkey- spider shaped fellow mounted the steps and shouted Before you disperse friends listen listen listen- t listen to me a moment I have a sad story to tell you About three weeks ago I was walking through one of the streets of our beautiful city when I met a young man about to step tep into one of the drinking hells I walked up to him laid my hand gently on his shoulder and said My dear young friend stop before it is too late Do not break your poor mothers mother's heart Guess not he answered with a sneer She died four years ago I f Ah but your sisters aud and your brothers do do not set them a bad example i Lone child he answered in return L May be you are but then you will f bring your poor old father to sorrow Oh do not turn his locks gray from grief over your recklessness Guess he wont won't worry much I just saw him get on a street car with a pretty 1 good load on Then for your own sake my friend turn to the path of sobriety take my word for it unless you do you will fill a drunkards drunkard's grave before many days It was useless He plunged into th the the- j den and swallowed three cocktails in rapid succession and then tackled the lunch j counter I had almost forgotten the circumstance circumstance circumstance cir cir- my friends but day to-day day to day to-day I walked along Third South street and looked into undertaking establishment establishment establishment and what do you suppose I saw stretched out on one of those cold cold marble slabs What do you think I saw saw saw- The poor unfortunate young man I dare say exclaimed a lady with trembling voice and tears in her eyes No N 0 I saw a rat as big as a bull p pup pup- p and a a. tail on him as long as a St. St Patricks Patrick's j Day oration Good-bye Good and the unregenerate unregenerate unregenerate generate scoffer pounded off his perch j and made a line bee-line for the nearest five- five cent symposium a. a j |