The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-22
Drunkenness among Women.

Do educated, rich and accomplished women eves
get drunk? Is drunkenness prevalent vice among
this class anywhere this broad continent? II we
should answer these questions from our own observat
tion would say that very rarely In the lapse o!
years strange, surprising does occur something
like that unaccountabIe propensity steal of whic.
we meet with an instance in a whole lifetime. Our
association and acquaintance have been with the Indies
of the SOUTH We have ever found them, as class:
gentle refined Intelligent and yiftu0us Their niuf
ence upon the coaser nature Of man has been to ee
vate and purify. Here and there and at long inter.
yals, hear of very unusual of morbid physi-
cal and psychological action maniestng itself in the
excessive use Of sfeh snulants opium or alcohol.
When such instances DO occur, the whole community
is moved by the shock of eartbtuake The
fall of CynOsure could hardly occasion greater sur;
prise or grief With such an experience among thu
daughters of our own sunny cline, readers will
sympahse with utter amazement occasioued by
reading an article in the Round Table, high-tone9
literary paper published IN New ofk under the above
title. 1t says
''Two weeks ago ne had occasion to notice the
prevalence of drinking among ladies at our Watering
places but it is alone the watering places tbat
the ladies thus indulge. At their houses, at he
stores and at those ppbe nuisances called s4ie resf
taurants they are accustomed to drink liquors Tho
sight Of tipsy intoxicated woman is not uncom:
mon at the seaside, and it is hy uucotnmot:
upon Broadway
We have the best authority for stating that some
OF the most elegant ladies OF our leading cities will
pass this summer not at Saratoga or Newport usual
but at asylum for inebriates And We assert upon
the authority that the vice of fashionable drink
ing is now more prevalent among the ladies than
among the gentlemen Of this country.
9 The ladies drink in secret They have private
bottles hidden about the house. in spite Of the vigil
anee of doctors nurses, husbands and fathers"
The writer then goes to tell how they supplied
by mjncrs, dressnakcrs, fashionable merchants, Sc
And then says: !
'If We con!d unroof the houses of this and Other
cities, would exhibit to the reader instances of fe
male intoxicaton that make angels weep Mothers of
families breaking the hearts Of th IL husbands and
daughters by this vice. Girls of eighteen, the daugh:
tiers of our most respectable merchants, have beer.
grossly intoxicated in Broadway stages aud upon
the public Streets :
Can this inconceiyably horrible picture be drawn
from the life We hardly know how to believe IT,
yet the statements made with bodness and conf:
dence. This is poisoning the very fountain Of moral
Influences Ii this is not hde0us dream OF Il disort
dered Imagination the future of the land is dark III
deed. What is to become of people whose mothers
sisters and daughters are drunkards? We are happy
to think that such dreadful things be said of
our southern wives and mothers God grant that it
may never be true of them. Nevertheless, let them
not boast but fear.