The evening of the reopening of Slavin's saloon, as it was still called,
was long remembered in Black Rock. It was the occasion of the first
appearance of 'The League Minstrel and Dramatic Troupe,' in what
was described as a 'hair-lifting tragedy with appropriate musical
selections.' Then there was a grand supper and speeches and great
enthusiasm, which reached its climax when Nixon rose to propose the
toast of the evening--'Our Saloon.' His speech was simply a quiet, manly
account of his long struggle with the deadly enemy. When he came to
speak of his recent defeat he said--
'And while I am blaming no one but myself, I am glad to-night that this
saloon is on our side, for my own sake and for the sake of those who
have been waiting long to see me. But before I sit down I want to say
that while I live I shall not forget that I owe my life to the man that
took me that night to his own shack and put me in his own bed, and met
me next morning with an open hand; for I tell you I had sworn to God
that that morning would be my last.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209