Polynesian., 1852-09-11

jars in the earth for that purpose or in a ois-
tern or pond Of water Pliny and Varro
speak OF wine not mixed with myrrh. but
n very sweet aromatic drink, much approved
by Roman ladies, and conceded to them be-
cause it would not inebriate. Lesbian wine
had this character. Aristotle speaks of sweet
wine that would not intoxicate. Atheneus
speaks of "the innocent Chan" and "the
intoxicating Biblinum," and Pliny remarks
the Surrentine wine does not affect the
head" Calmet informs US that s'the ancients
had the art of preserving wine sweet through
out the year" and Plutarch records that be-
fore the time of Psammaticus, the Egyptians
either drank fermented wine nor used it
in their offerings. And where it had been fer
mented and contained intoxicating qualities,
both Greeks and Romans diluted it with
water. Heslod prescribes during the sum-
mer months three parts water to one Of wine.
According to Humer, Pramnon and Maro-
man wines required twenty parts of water to
one of wine, and Hippocrates considered
twenty parts of water and one of Thasian
wine to be proper beverage. Pliny de-
clares that Maronian wine, celebrated by
Homer, long maintained its character for
during the time Of Ma,ianus, their consul,
each pint was mingled with eighty parts Of
water. In the receipt for making Cato's fami-
ly wine, vinegar and sea water were added
and to the grape juice was added FIVE times the
quantity OF water. But instead Of this diIuton,
to our modern wines brandy and whiskey
are added instead of water The use of
weak wines in former times undoubtedly
tended to excite the taste for stronger ones,
such as were used in the orgies of Bacchus,
and such as killed Alexander the Great, and
multitudes of other great drunkards, but they
did not lead any one to drink rum or gin, for
these are modern inventions. 1t is the des-
tructive use of the modern fiery fluid which
makes total abstinence more necessary than
it was formerly. We have among us none of
the light, uneImented and harmless wines
which have been common drink in southern
Europe, Syria, Persia and Egypt, from the
times Of Homer and of Noah but instead of
them, the drugged and branded wines man
uiactnred in London, Faris, New York and
elsewhere, all passing by the name of wines,
but almost as different as new cider is from
cider brandy. Among those who deride s'tee-
totalism as Mahometan or Pagan rather
than Christian doctrine, and who refer to
the miraculous transformation of water into
wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, is
there one who can really believe the wine
thus used contained % per cent. of alcohol,
or that our Savior intended TO recommend
Intoxicating liquors, or that the wine used at
his last supper with his disciples, was any
other than that in common use at every sup
per, that being the principal meal of the day
thr ughout the Roman world, corresponding
with the modern fashionable dinner AT that
time the Roman people advocated and prac-
tised temperance by diuting their wines, and
using those which did not intoxicate Their
example no doubt extended into their Jewish
provinces. Is it probable under these cir
cumstances that alcoholic wines were select
ed for the table of the disciples : think
not. There was therefore no need Of incul-
eating total abstinence then; but subsequently
under the Emperors, dissipation increased,
stronger wines were consumed, and drunk
enness prevailed. 1t was 600 years after
wards that Mahomet mentioned wine that
ntoxicates, and that which does not, showing
that both kinds were still in use in his day,
but as his army after victory, had partaken
very freely of some which did intoxicate, and
was near being surprised and cut off in the
night when many of his men were not sober,
and as all wines have as natural tendency
to ferment and generate alcohol as moderate
drinkers have to become tipplers, he gave a
hint to the angel who next night brought him
a chapter forbidding the use of wine altogeth-
er. In all the chapters of accidents, or
chapters of design, few have had a better re-
suit than the drunken bout of these swarthy
Arabs. And as like to give man credit
for all the good he does, | must set down
the founder of the Moslem faith as better
friend of temperance than some professed
Christians Of our own day. IfthOusands of
millions have been kept sober by the simple
imposture of writing few words on sheet
of paper. how much does it become us to take
heed of the truths laid before US from all
quarters, ancient and modern, sacred and
profane, revealing to US the Unreasonable
amount of folly. misery and crime which in
evitably follow the use Of intoxicating liquors.
New STEAMER LINEs.-A great enterprise IS on
foot in London for a line of steamships to Australia
and New Zealand, via New York and Panama.
The plan is mostly completed, and the line will