There is so much more of truth than poetry in the following “old legend” which the writer recently ran across, that it will bear repetition even though every reader has perused it a dozen times ’ere this. As illustrating the power of liquor and its tendency to lead to perdition, it is doubtful indeed if a more apt illustration was ever given.
    As the legend runs, a man sold his soul to the devil. The conditions were: “For a certain number of years this man was to have all his desires gratified, at the expiration of which time his soul was to be forfeited.”
    When the time agreed upon had expired this man was unwilling to fulfill his part of the contract, and asked the devil upon what terms he could be released. The replay was: “If you will curse your God, I will release you.”
    “No,” said the man, “I cannot curse the being whose nature is love. Give me something less fearfully wicked.”
    “Then kill your father,“ replied the devil, “you go free.”
    “No,” answered the man, “that is too horrible to think of. I will not commit so great a crime. Are there no other conditions?”
    “One more,” replied the devil, “you must get drunk.”
    “That is a very easy thing to do,” the man answered, “and I accept your proposition. I cannot kill may father, I will not curse my God, but I can get drunk, and when I become sober all will be well.”
    Accordingly he got drunk, and when in this condition chanced to meet his father, who upbraided him, which so excited the ire of the drunken and half-crazed man that he slew his father, cursed God, then fell down dead and the devil had him without fail.
    Only a legend, this particular case. But how true to the fact regarding the liquor curse.

From— The Logan Republican. (Logan, Utah), 27 Jan. 1906. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.