temperance lecture at Richford;
this leads me to think that you propose to ignore entirely the
wishes of this Company, and do as you see fit. If such is the
case you will oblige me by sending me your resignation by the
first train, and vacating the Company's premises at Sutton
Junction at the earliest possible moment so that they can be
occupied by the new agent.

"Yours truly,
"F. P. BRADY, Asst. Supt.
_Farnham, Sept. 4th, 1894._"

Strange, indeed, that the Assistant Superintendent should have
supposed that an affair like this could always remain personal, and
never be subjected to the public gaze! Did he not know there was a
temperance community in Canada who would, at least, enquire into the
case of a persecuted brother? It is strange, also, that while other
roads at the present time are finding it very much to their advantage
to employ temperance men to the exclusion of others; while serious
accidents are frequently taking place on the different roads in which
scores of human beings perish through the recklessness of some
employee whose intellect is clouded by the action of strong drink; and
while some new roads in the beginning of their existence are adopting
very strict temperance rules; when even the Canadian Pacific Railway
has been obliged to dismiss or suspend some of its men for excessive
drinking; it is very strange in view of all these facts that an
official of this great road should ask a station agent, because he
delivers a temperance lecture off duty, to "vacate the Company's
premises, so that they can be occupied by the new agent."

An example of what intemperance among railway employees often means
may be found in the Craigs' Road disaster, which occurred on the Grand
Trunk in July, 1895. In this accident, thirteen persons were killed,
and thirty-four others, some of whom died soon after, were wounded. At
the inquest a Victoriaville hotel keeper testified that the engineer
of the wrecked train had purchased from him a quart of ale on the
night before the fearful disaster, which hurried so many into
eternity.

There were some well-meaning people who are counted in the temperance
ranks who advised Mr. Smith to submit to Mr. Brady, and take no more
active part in temperance work rather than risk the loss of his
agency. This advice was no doubt meant as a kindness, although it did
not partake of the martyr's spirit,