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Story
November 7, 1869
The Daily Phoenix
Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
At a Philadelphia temperance meeting years ago, a clergyman defends moderate wine drinking. An elderly man shares how his formerly intemperate son, after pledging abstinence, relapsed upon seeing the clergyman drink wine and died of delirium tremens, revealing the clergyman as the speaker.
Clipping
OCR Quality
75%
Good
Full Text
THRILLING INCIDENT.
At a temperance meeting in Philadelphia, some years ago, a learned clergyman spoke in favor of wine as a drink, demonstrating its use, quite to his own satisfaction, to be scriptural and healthful. When he sat down, a plain elderly man arose and asked leave to say a few words.
"A young friend of mine," said he, "who had long been intemperate, was at length prevailed on, to the great joy of his friends, to take the pledge of total abstinence from all that could intoxicate. He kept the pledge faithfully for some time, struggling with his passion strenuously; but one evening, in the room, in airy glasses of wine were handed around. They came to the clergyman present who took a glass, saying a few words in vindication of the practice.
"Well," thought the young man, "if a clergyman can take wine, and justify it so well, why not I?" So he, also, took a glass. It instantly rekindled his fiery and slumbering appetite: and, after a rapid downward course, he died of delirium tremens, a raving madman.
The old man paused for utterance, and was just able to add: "That young man was my son; and the clergyman was the reverend doctor who has just addressed the assembly."
At a temperance meeting in Philadelphia, some years ago, a learned clergyman spoke in favor of wine as a drink, demonstrating its use, quite to his own satisfaction, to be scriptural and healthful. When he sat down, a plain elderly man arose and asked leave to say a few words.
"A young friend of mine," said he, "who had long been intemperate, was at length prevailed on, to the great joy of his friends, to take the pledge of total abstinence from all that could intoxicate. He kept the pledge faithfully for some time, struggling with his passion strenuously; but one evening, in the room, in airy glasses of wine were handed around. They came to the clergyman present who took a glass, saying a few words in vindication of the practice.
"Well," thought the young man, "if a clergyman can take wine, and justify it so well, why not I?" So he, also, took a glass. It instantly rekindled his fiery and slumbering appetite: and, after a rapid downward course, he died of delirium tremens, a raving madman.
The old man paused for utterance, and was just able to add: "That young man was my son; and the clergyman was the reverend doctor who has just addressed the assembly."
What sub-type of article is it?
Tragedy
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Temperance Meeting
Alcohol Relapse
Delirium Tremens
Clergyman Wine
Father's Testimony
What entities or persons were involved?
Elderly Man
Young Man
Reverend Doctor
Where did it happen?
Philadelphia
Story Details
Key Persons
Elderly Man
Young Man
Reverend Doctor
Location
Philadelphia
Event Date
Some Years Ago
Story Details
Intemperate young man pledges abstinence but relapses after clergyman drinks wine and justifies it, rekindling his appetite leading to death by delirium tremens; speaker reveals victim as his son and clergyman as the speaker.