Evening star., 1868-07-24
.wiLL THE COMING MAN DRINK
--s-s- WlNk p,

one OF the best OF Mr. James Parton's re-
cent essays il che article in the August num-
Der OF the -tiiGnac koathIy. under the above
nue. IN which he gives the reasons for and
against the practice OF drinking alcoholic liz
qEors with such Iup.rialfty and epigramalic
force, as 20 ensure II a careful reading by the
candid and inteIlgen: on both sides of the
question Setting out with the statement tna,
.'the teetoaIlers confess their failure" because
after forty years OF zsaious and well meant ef-
fort IN the ssesuse' people are DIR hiking more
than ever; be thinks tue reason is, that they
have mistaken a symptom of disease for the
disease itself, and that the thing TO dois 20
strike al the causes OF drinking; to cease the bad
breathing. the bad eating, the bad reading tn.
bad feeling and bad thinking which. I'm a sens,
HeceSsitate bad drinking. 'sInstead OF insult-
aug the public intelligence by asserting that the
wines mentioned IN the Bible were some kind
OF unintoxicsting slops, and eSasperatins the
public temper by premature prohibt0ry laws
they (the teetotaIIersl had better expend the
strength upon the science of the matter and
prove 10 mankind. If they can, that these agree
sble drinks which they denounce, are really
AurtfuI"
Waving consideration of the admitted evils
OF excessive drinking, he discusses the more
open question rs to whether wines and LIQUORS
IN themselves. and taken in moderation, are
not pernieious. He believes the evils OF exce,,
s.e 50 fearful that it would afford ger era relief
TO know that alcoholic liquors in themselves
are hursfnl and 20 be always avoided. He
argues that they are not nourishment became
the quantity Of nutri,iye matter in them i. so
small; they do not aid digestion; do not pro-
duce heat, and do not give strength; and cite,
numerous authorities IN support OF these posl.
uOns. We all know that " hen we drip 4 aIco
hohc liquor AZ affects the BRAN immediately
Most of rs are awsre, too. that IL affects the
brain inJuriou-ly, iessening at once its power
20 discern and discriminate. Mr.. Parton takes
'oe gronna inst 'it Is physically iIapos bic for
a human BRAN, muddiei every day with a
quart of beer, TO correctly hald correct opinions
or appropriate pure knowledge.r
be asks III wine does not nouiish us does
not assist the decomposition Of food. does not
warm, does not strengthen, what does II co'''
Nhat II does accomplish, he says, is 70 eaa BILE
Us TO violate the laws OF nature without imIae-
d'ate suffering ana speedy destruction. C.tlnz
the cases OF London taiIors crowded in suifo.
catlns apartments of soldiers performing cen
tnuous service for several days, and Others
ne says they would have given MP or persisted
but tor the gin OF whisky, but doubtless nature
ASS even with thsm afterwards. Alcohol sup
ported them in wrong doing II is concluded
eHCe and observation teach and indicate. th..
We have one certainty: that to a person IL good
health and good life, alcohoIic LIQUORS sra 10,
necessary, but are always n some degree hurt
fuI.
The writer then asks sWiIl the coming ma,
drink wine when he is sick ~ end says thst
here the testimony becomes contradictory. The
question Is NOT easily answered He cites ths
evidence OF the late Theodore Parker, ..intern-
perate habits tend to check tn eonsumptiva
tendency, of NJ. knight IN reference 10 the
London tailors, before referred to; and says
that 10 a long list OF such facts as these couId
be added instances In which the deadly aceo.
oounteracted by alcohol was otherthan po..ored
Ar-excessive exertion, very Dad food, gIut-
tony, deprivation Giving the evidence on
both sides, he concludes that the truth anpears
to ne that IN iew instances OF Intermittent
disease small quantity OF wine may some
tunes enable patient, who is al the low ude OF
vitality, 70 anticipate the turn of the tide and
borrow at four O'Clock enough OF i've o'elock's
strength to enable him to reach five O'CLOCK:
bur that with regard 90 this daily drinking q.
wine and whiskey by ladies and Others lor
mere debility il is delusion. II seems 10
nOuTish, but does not il seems 10 warn, but
does not il seems 10 strengthen. bat does not
III Is an arrsnt cheat ana perpetuates the evil
it IS supposed 10 alleviate.