Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-28
rsmpsrance and Light WInes.

correspondent OF the Louisville Cou'
rier writes as follows;
To the opinions adduced in my last of
our distinguished men | can add in
definitely. DR.. George w. Sampson, the
distinguished president Of Columbian
College, the able divine, the learned gen.
tleman and the pious Christian, in speak
ing Of the opinion Of Professor Agassiz
that 1.-THE common use of pure light
wines tends to diminish drunkenness and
immortality" says: Travellers univer-
sally speak Of the fact to which Prof
Agassiz refers. II is found stated in
substance in the books of travels in Eu-
sope, constantly coming from the press.
la my own experience and observation
for months, was struck with this fact
and presume that hundred gentlemen
casually met with in Europe have spoken
to me of the same The abundance of
cheap native wines, especially claret, in
Italy and France, almost entirely ex-
cludes all use Of distilled, and especially
drugged liquors. | think that not phil
osophy alone, but observation attests that
it is not the small amount of diffused al
coho in fermented liquors that creates
insatiate thirst for inebriating drinks and
leads TO intoxication. 1t is distilled
liquors and alcohol in concentrated form
that proves dangerous stimulant; while
the drugged liquors common in our
country create an inward fever that burns
like the fires Of hell itself. 1t is the
rarest thing to see an intoxicated man In
the streets of Paris, or in the cities of
Italy or Germany; the only drunken
man, even in restaurant, whom | saw
in Italy. was an Englishman."
The Rev. Dr. 7. V. Moore, of Rich
mond, OF whose learning and piety it is
needless to speak to a Southern public,
says: my observation accords exactly
with that Of Prof Agassiz and Sampson.
/ did not see single drunkard in the
vine growing countries | visited nor a
single man who seemed to be under the
influence of alcoholic stimulants. In
deed, saw as many drunken men in my
first day in New York and Richmond,
after my return, as i saw during nay
whole European tour. earnestly hope
that cheap light wines may soon be in
troduced into our market from home
supplies, and that our own State may
become a grape growing region. | be-
lieve it would be vastfsource of wealth,
and would lessen the use of the horrible
poisons now used from our whisky man
ufactories, that are running so many fol
time and eternity"
Professor Schele de We're, the distin-
puished occupant of the chair of Modern
Languages in the University of Virginia,
says 1.-THE pure wines of Europe are
calculated to prevent the creating of an
appetite for strong drink and to promote
sobriety Drunkenness is a rare occur
renee in the vinegrowing countries OF
Europe. | repeat the opinion enter
tained by all observant travellers, and
confirmed by the experience of England,
since the reductions of duties on light
French wines and their immensely in
creased importation, when i say, that the
culture of the grape and the manufacture
of pure wines, tend to promote the
morals of the people and diminish the
use of strong drink. 1t has been my lot
to travel repeatedly from Southern Italy
northward, to my family home in Swe-
den, and few features are more striking
than the gradual decrease of temperance
and orderly quiet among the people, as
the region of native wines is left behind,
and strong drink take their place. In
Italy and Southern France drunkard is
rarely seen"
The distinguished rector of st. Paul's
church. in Richmond, the Rev. DIR.
Charles Minnegerode, who was born and
reared in Geamany, says;
GAS a general observation, it may
we'll be stated, that intemperance is
much, very much, less in those countries
of Europe in which light wines are used.
This is especially true of France and'the
countries south Of the Pyrenees and the
Alps. In Germany both lager and hook
are very safe outlet for the thirsting
masses. There is kind of bad whisky
in Germany called schnaps that pro-
duces more drunkenness than in France.
There, indeed, | have never seen a
drunken man. The introduction of a
comparatively light beverage would
prove eminently beneficial to the morals
of our people, and would do more to
check the growth of intemperance than
all the temperance societies in the
world.
DR.. Henry J. Bigelow says: My OBJ
servation in Europe convinces me that
pure wine as a daily beverage is not in
furious. Using stimulants assists disin-
tegration for the time and enables man
to put his mark into that time-in this
way they are of immense value to the
every day workings of life.
Professor Agassiz II was born and
bred in country in which wine making
is the principal branch Of agriculture.
My father owned extensive vineyards, as
also my sisters. have seen the opera
ton just as you see farming in this coun-
try. Every dne who had bit of vine
yard made his own wine. 1t is the usual
beverage 1t is part of the alimenta-
ton of the couutry-one of the chari-
ties of the country. When a pauper
approaches a clergyman's door he re-
ceives meat and wine. ] spent eleven
years in German universities and in
France, and have had opportunities to
become familiar with the mode of living,
the diet and the habits of the people. |
There are portions of France and Swift
zsrlaud where bread and wine constitute |
the food of the people The peasant Of
Bavaria lives upon beer and bread and a
little meat; but the principal food Of the
inhabitants of southern Germany is beer
and bread In the vine growing coun-
tries of Europe, ihtemperance is un-
known. | hail with joy-for | am a
temperance mani hail with JOY the |
efforts that are being made to raise wine
in this country. | believe that when you
have everywhere cheap, pure, unadulter
ated wine, yoa will no longer. have need |
of prohibitory or license laws.