Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-09-08

lffOHl the New 4 OTk llIles, August
Figures furnished by the D1iy Bulletin afford
unpleasant confirmation of the opiiion we en-
pressed at the outbreak of hosiii'ies that the
effect of European war will, not be beneficial to
American interests. We have exported less of
our products, while larger su!liy of foreign
manufactures has been thrown into our ports.
than during the corresponding period of last
year. During the last tix weeks. " the imports
have been only half million doll irs lelow tliose
for the same period of last year. Willie the ex-
ports. exclusive of specie, for The same tune,
have been s6,00O000 less than III lS6u Look
ing into the details, we find that from July IL to
August II our exports OF flour. wheat, bacon and
cheese were actually Less toar and wheat much
less--than in the same i've weeks of last year.
There is also remarkable falling off in manu-
featured tobacco and other articles. or pork
and lard and also-contrary Ia expectation-of
petroleum, there has been an increased export.
The wholesale quotations tisni,t some results
for which the believers IN The pr0.ifableness of
war were not prepared. Thus comparing prices
at the beginning and the end nf tho live weeks,
we find fractional decline instead of a large
advance in wheat and -four. a decline i'll petro-
leum, and a very decided decline in cotton. Pork
and mess-beef are among the few articles which
have moved upward. There is no reason to
anticipate any material change in the direction
of things. The devastation which is going on in
France will greatly reduce its supply OF food (;
but the poverty OF the people will 80 cripple
their ability to seek supplies elsewhere that the
effect upon our food exports will he compare
lively small. If any of our business readers
have felt inclined to ''launch out" i'll expectation
of great profits from the war, these facts should
suggest 10 them some salutary reflections.
Roilicisins Dnss.
Our grandfathers, or perhaps il would be bet
ter to say our great-grandfatieis, were rolllek-
ing boys in their time They We're good at
hunting. good at fighting, and more than good
at drinking. They lived much in me open arr
did not smoke to excess, and were rlnSh- ready,
honest people, who despised eiiinlanry, scorned
| the milk-sops, or as they sohlrtinlns c,tli
| them. the Jenny .Jessamies for nrctcrrilg the
ladies' chamber to tile fields OF Dlns or Mars,
| or the festivals of Bacchlis. Z en- so re-
Gently as fifty years ago, hart! iiilihllS was
the rule, and abstinence the exception Not that
our grandfathers got very DRINK: it was point
| of honor with them to drink great deal without
becoming intoxicated, and to carry their wine
| like gentlemen none the worse for an extra bot,
| tie. But our great-grandfathers, hundred
years ago, drank harder than their sons who
| came after them, and thought it the test oil
| good fellow to be what was called a " three bot
| tie man" to ''leave no heel-traps,' never te
to shirk the liquor, or be the first to pro
pose joining the ladies. In the words o
Robert Burns, he was considered coward loor
who set the example of breaking up the party
and he who could imbibe the most liquor, ant
remain erect ON his chair after all the rest of the
company had fallen helpless under the table, ,wa
liking among them a." In those days,n defaul
of conversation, which was sometime too apt t.
degenerate into quarrelsomeness and unpleasant
personalities, a song was found extremely useiu
to keep the company in good humor. He VIII
could sing, and would not contribute in this wa.
to the conviviaity OF the company, had to drln
a glass of salt and water as u penalty TO
contumacy, or was expected to give toast o
sentiment.
This ultra -bacchanalian period of English socia
history may be said to have commenced with til
Cavaliers, during the Revoluton and to hav
been continued by them during the Protectorat
not only because it was the fashion, but be
cause it was opposed to the practice and til
|, teaching OF the Puritans and Roundheads.
remained the fashion of the upper and middl
classes for the whole of the eighteenth centur,
and so late as the Regency and the close OF til
reign of George the Third, when the first syml
toms of much needed reform became visible
: How long the fashion lasted. and how hard
was to uproot, appears from references all
, illusions in the literature of the time. Dea
} Itanlsay's amusing "reminiscences of Scottis
Life and Character are full of it,. " Nothing
SAYS the dean, :" can more powerfully illlistla
J the deep-rooted character of Incorporate habi
. | in some families, than an anecdote which was r
lated to me as coming from the late MIR. Ma
h kenze, author of THE Man of feeling" Il
v had been involved in a regular drinking part
n | He was keeping as free from the usual eNcess
Q as he was able, and as he marked companion
. around him falling victims to the power OF drin
!, he himself dropped off under the table amoi
!. the slain, as a measure of precaution. Lyii
a there, his attention was called to a srnall pair
Is hands wroking at his throat. On asking what
i, was voice replied Sir, I'm the lad that's
d loosen the neckcloths."
N "There was, adds the dean in another p'
h ton of his little book, "a sort of fascination
10 the supposed dignity and manlinels attached
- powers Of deep potation, and the fatal effects
drinking were spoken of in a manner both rec
10 less and unfeeling. well-known laird OF
" old school expressed himself with great indigI
g. ton against the charge that hard drinking actu
ii ly killed people. Ma, ma never knew anybc
ly that was killed with drinking. though ! hs
~ known some that died IN the training AL
Year Around.