1. WHISKY AND CARDS.
Felix Bagan's history shows the career of many a boy, when thrown
into bad company. At an early age Felix was left an orphan. When his
parents both died he had not a relative living that cared anything for
him. Taken from the grave of his mother, who died shortly after the
death and burial of her husband, the unfortunate lad was placed in the
orphan's home in St. Louis. Here he remained for several years, and
acquired all the education that he possessed. After becoming old enough
to do some work, he was given to a farmer, who took him to his home in
the country.
Possessed of a genial disposition, he soon made many friends. He was
highly esteemed by the lady and gentleman who adopted him. He was honest
and industrious. It was on election day that his down-fall took place.
In company with several young men, who resided on neighboring farms, he
went to a small town near by to pass the day. Being invited to
participate in a game of cards, he and several of his companions found
their way into the back part of a saloon, where the day was spent in
drinking and gambling. Toward evening a dispute arose about the cards, a
drunken fight was the result. Bagan, half crazed with drink, drew his
knife and stabbed to the death one of his companions. The young man whom
he murdered, prior to this had been one of his best friends. When he saw
the life-blood of his companion ebb away, he came to his senses, and was
soon sober. He wept like a child when he saw his friend sinking away
into, the arms of death. The awful deed was done, and nothing was left
to the unfortunate youth but to be led away to prison, with the blood of
a human being upon his garments. In due time he had his trial, and was
sent to the penitentiary for thirty years. He was twenty-two
years of age when he received the sentence. He has now been in the
prison thirteen years. For seven years he worked in the saddle-tree
shop for Sullivan, Hayes & Co., prison contractors. At the end of that
time his health failing, he refused to work. The prison authorities
thought he was trying to shirk his work. After being severely flogged,
he was placed in the dungeon and kept there in solitary confinement for
three months. Half dead, he was taken to the hospital and left in the
hands of the prison physician. For a time it was thought he would die.
After a while he began to recover; large patches of hair fell from his
scalp, leaving his head thickly covered with bald spots. When he entered
the prison he was a fine-appearing young man, but thirteen years of
imprisonment have converted him into a broken-down old man and physical
wreck. That was a sad day for that unfortunate youth when he entered the
saloon to take part in the game of cards. He will not live to the end of
his sentence, but will die in the penitentiary, and find his last, long
home in the prison grave-yard. Young man, as you read the history of
this convict, can you not
persuade yourself to let whisky and cards alone for the future?
