New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-07

Some articles in Household Words" In 1854, on
the workmen of France, described the amentaDls m
huenee of the wine shops; and in 1922 1ne Ltmes
Paris correspondent stated that the 30th OF Ootooer
the Project of the Department of the Sarhe ad fsued
a circular to all the mayors of his department, IN
which he declared the resortiDg TO wine houses Is
"deporabe in every respect for there tne 1Ove1n
"ment il vied the health impaired and the resources
of the family foolshly squandered, 10 the detrlneh'
"of morality and religion"
In the words of De Quincy, Preparations OF ntox-
"catDg liquor, even when harmless In their carrier
stages are fitted 10 be stepping stones for making
the transition TO higher stages that not harmless
Smollett the historian and novelist, found about
hundred years since, i'll the course OF his travels tna
all wine districts are poor and the French peasnfy
were always more healthy VIII an there was scarcity
" of wine"
The Count de Montalembert land he, a Frenchman,
ouglt 10 krowl said in his place in the French tona
Assembly, 1850, "Wbere there is a wiDe,shop there
care the elements of disease and the fghtfu source
of all that is at enmiy with the interests OF the work
"men."
Horatio Greenough, the eminent American scu ptor,
in letter TO me from Florence in 1888, said: Many
" of the more thinking and prudent Italians a,stin
from the use of wine several of the most eminent
of The medical men are VIGOROUSLY opposed 10 it, use.
"apd declare it a poison. When l assure you that
ne-Gfth and sometimes one fourth, of the earnings
" of the laborers expended ID wine, you may form
some 1ea as to It's probable influence their health
" and thrift" 80
He also said that the dealers in the weak wines did
not hesitate 20 aduterate them, III order 10 aau ue
10 their gains. -,
]. Fefimore Cooper the American novelist, said:
came TO Europe under the impression that there
" wac drunkenness among Us than III any otbeL
country, England, perhaps, excepted. Tes'deHee"
E" SIR months an Paris changed Dy Uiers eHtTeiy.
"Iight Wines" saws Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton,
nothing so trescherous They infame the brain like
81 fire willie melting the palate like ice All inhaoi-
tants of light-wine countries are quarrelsome'
In a former communication, described Piquette' or
the ordinary wine so-eaed) of the country as being
mere "decoction eeched from grape stalks, sSins,
Sc after being drenched with water, ald after all the
wine had been trodden ont by the feet;
In answer TO an inquiry with regard to the acreage
value of Piouette &C.. Mesrs. Barton, Guertier and
Co wrote me from Bordeaux, 9th of April, lSoU:
THE wine.vats of Medoc produce on an average
40 bbds Of wine; each 63 American gallons, OF -
English Imperial gallons. -,
Bordeaux has varied, ike the wine l5Oper cent within
the last five six years. -
"The Imperial gallon wit lout the cask, IN 1885, was
n centimes about sOus in 1860, 81 centlmes about
& SOM Piquette pure, however is hardly to be met
with and is replaced BY mixtures Of cider, rum and
water and all sorts of artificial beverages.
II appears from this that even the mild wines are
nsed M bv fabrications and mixed with all sorts of
artificial substances and then palmed of upo1 he
nublic and the natioIs of the world as pure, heahu
wines The statement agrees with that OF the sculptor
GTeenCugh.
The French drink wine as we in America drink tea
and coffee No wonder that the great physician,
Rroussas found the omachs Of most Of the adults he
desected in state of disease and that he 10 the
conclusion ct last that that disease was occasioned by
the use of heating liquors. No wonder, too that Dr
Sewa of Washington, in his dlssectlOns, found the
stt machs of even regular moderate drinkers Of inox
icating liouOr in a state Of inflammation, and
corded them in his admirable drawings of their
stomachs. How could IL be otherwise I Alcohol Is
as sure make impression on the stomach as on the
face.
In walking the streets of Paris for weeks past, |
have been much struck with the difference III appear
snce of the middle aged and more advanced among the
higher classes here and in Italy There, the uss OF
strong drink of any kind is limited and il ia TO
meet face among the class specified, indicating in
temperance here such faces meet you at every turn
acea not bearing the hue of health but that hue which
indicates the ravages Of the poison alcohol
| have no doubt the surface of the stomach of the
regular moderate drinker of alcohol is always in
state of dis ase and diseased in proportion to the al
cobol useo.
The diminished production of pure wine on the con-
tnen and consequent increase Of price, and the fear
of being poisoned by fabricaions may have had
influence not only in checking consumption, but in
Iessenng crime and poverty to the like extent
Then again the recent great extension of the bar
rers here has brought all the drinking of the inhab
itanfs within them before this extension the laborng
classes of Paris were in the haiti OF resorng to wine
shops outside the barriers where they could drink free
of euty Now these drinking places are brought
within and when IesOTted H. for lntemperance, the
civ tax on the liquor is added TO the price.
fIaviDg a letter OF introduction 10 one of tho most
extensive vendors Of pure wine here, presented my
self and although was obliged to converse through
an interpreter, he gave me much valuable niorna-
ton.
He stated very frankly that wine was not neces-
sary article but that like Adam and Eve, were all
prone 70 do that which was t0r6tddeH. lie told me
that the wine introduced into Paris was not Piquetts
but heady wine that the fabrcaons took place in the
CITY, and that he believed full onehaf the liquor drank
as wine in Paris fabricated.
have learned from another source that pretty much
all the common wine sold in the shops Is manufactured
in the city, and is Of the most injurious quality, from
the materials used in the manufacture aside from its
contained alcohol.
Families purchasing directly from makers of known
integrity are alone partially safe from drugged wine
and even fheU should he watchiul TO the channel
through which they receive it, The homes, dealers find
it difficult 10 carry their trade IN competition with
the fabriCators.
The wine merchant above referred 10, stated that
being i'll, his physician recommended him to take his
own Burgundy as medicine. In place OF taking his
advice he drank nothing but water for Blk weeks, and
recovered. The physician was well pleased with the
recovery Of his patient and that his remedy had been
70 efecual; but when tod that water had been
substituted for wine be looked blank enough. STILL
no temperance movement opposes the cautious use OF
pure intoxicating drink medisne; but, when used
a. medicine, it should be abandoned like other med
cines the moment it has effected the object for which
was used. AS medicine the dJuseis great.
A gentleman told me that he drank strong beer at
dinner by advice of his physician asked him. How
"long have you been taking this medicine at dinner7'
1.-TWO years" was his reply. / remarked that 1
thought it rather a singular habit TO take medicine for
so long time at the dinner.tabe. After moments
reflection re laughed outright and said 81 will own up
i love IT," Another gentleman of the city called
on me while here in 1888, and remarked " | am a
years old was in the habit Of taking two glasses of
" wine a Gay as medicine; i gave II up because |
" wished to give my entire example 10 the cause OF
" temperance and, much to my surprise | fonnd the
disease left me 1 had been taking vine 10 cure"
While in Rome saw it ann Junced that he had Led at
the age of 90. know metimes live to great age
using alcohol but they live in spite Of alcohol and