From the Baltimore Saturday, Visi,er
THE RAZOR STROP MANS SPEECH,
Before tie z.U.asbihgtoniaas. -
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Henry Smith, the famous "Razor Strop
Man." spoke before the Washingtonians on
Monday evening. Inasmuch as a deep interest
has been excited with respect to the history of
this reformed inebriate, (for such he does not
shrink from declaring himself, like some half
way nen,) we concluded to report the main
facts Of his experience" Here they are:


+ 1 will tell you, said he, how came to be a
teetotaler. One of my shopmates came to me
one day, when at work, and asked ME to 60 to
a temperance meeting with hm. | said would
If he would lend me a shillingto get some beer;
he said he would if would MT spend it till the
meeting was over. told him wouldn't; he
lent me one. When | 60, home, ! told my
wife was going to the temperance meeting,
but did not like to go in the old jacket; would
she 60 and get the loan of her brothers coat !
she went and got it; putt on; asked how it
fitted! She said very well; SO it did, round
the waist, but the sleeves were some three or
four inches too short found out way to
make that all right, by stufing my hands in my
pants pockets. As was going to the meeting,
did not think of being temperance man. |
did not say, "wife, all the vretchedness and
misery that have suffered has been endured
through strong drink" did not say, "wife,
if it wasn't for strong drink, | might have
always been respectable" | did not say, I" if
/ do not leave off drinking strong drink must
come to the work-house, or prison, or to the
gallows, for get worse and yorsc." ! did not
say, wife, it is all through strong drink that
have to shove my hands into my pants to hide
the shortness of my coat sleeves!" No! / did
not say any Of these things; but / had hold of
the shilling, and thought what would do.
with it when the meeting was out; got to the
church where the meeting was held; some one
opened the pew door should not if they had
not; | kept my hands in my pockets. The
meeting commenced; Mr.. Whitaker, from
Manchester a reclaimed drunkard, spoke !; he
told Of the many troubles he had seen through
strong drink, and said how happy and comfort
able he might always have been, had it not
been for strong drink and he said. !" if there
is any one in this meeting that has suffered
from strong drink, would say to him try tenn
perance, for" said he, "no man knows any
thing about temperance except he try it,"
Then, for the first time, began to think that
all the wretchedness and misery had suffered
was through strong drink began to think it
was all through strong drink that had to bor-
row the coat; began to think twas all through
strong drink that had to set there with my
hands in my pants pockets. (Cheers.)


When the meeting was over, told my wife
would try il for one month did, and at the
end Of the month ] found myself much more