A Different Slant
Personal Stories From The First Edition
I PROBABLY have one of the shortest stories in this whole volume and it
is short because there is one point I wish to get over to an occasional
man who may be in my position.
Partner in one of this country's nationally known concerns, happily
married with fine children, sufficient income to indulge my whims and
future security from the financial standpoint should paint a picture in
which there would be no possibility of a man becoming an alcoholic from
the psychological standpoint. I had nothing to escape from and I am known
as a conservative, sound business man.
I had missed going to my office several times while I tapered off and
brought myself to sobriety. This time, though, I found I could not taper
off, I could not stop and I had to be hospitalized. That was the greatest
shock to my pride I ever had. Such a blow that I made the firm resolve to
never again taste as much as one glass of beer. Careful thought and
analysis went into that decision.
The doctor at this hospital told me vaguely of the work of men who called
themselves Alcoholics Anonymous and asked if I wanted one of them to call
upon me. I was sure I needed no outside help, but in order to be polite
to the doctor and hoping he would forget it, I assented.
I was embarrassed when a chap called at my house one evening and told me
about himself. He quickly sensed my slight resentment and made it plain
to me that none of the crowd were missionaries, nor did they feel it
their duty to try to help anyone who did not want help. I think I closed
the talk by saying I was glad I was not an alcoholic and sorry he had
been bothered by me.
Within sixty days, after leaving the hospital the second time, I was
pounding at his door, willing to do anything to conquer the vicious thing
that had conquered me.
The point I hope I have made is-even a man with everything from the
material standpoint, a man with tremendous pride and the will power to
function in all ordinary circumstances can become an alcoholic and find
himself as hopeless and helpless as the man who has a multitude of
worries and troubles.
Next, Traveler, Editor, Scholar
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