Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-03-02
FASHIONABLE DRINKING,

Some time since, quite a sensa
ton was produced by the publica
ton Of a statement that drunken
ness was becoming quite common
among fashionable ladies as well a,
well as gentlemen. Masculine
drunkarls have been common since
the days ofNoah. but the idea that
the wives, mothers, and sisters .oi
well to do merchants and profess
ional men could possibly become
Incorporate seemed never to have
entered the minds Of large mum.
bers Of intelliger persons. There
was much that was sensational
about the agitation of this ones.
ton, yet, after making due allow
ance for exageration and false
statements, it was very evident
to unprcjudiccd observers that
there still remained some basis for
the accusation. Whatever was bad
then is just as bad now, ifnot worse
and how can it be otherwise? If
the passion for stimulants is trans
mitted from parent to child, is it
to be expected that gills and women
are exempt from this fatal law
of inheritance? The requirements
of fashionable society often make
great drains on women's strength
and vitality, and what wonder then
that they often find themselves
unable to be brilliant, sprightly,
and yivaciOus at the right time?I
The doctor has prescribed stimu-,
lants for them on other occasions,
and although these liquors may not
crafty the female palate, they GER
tainly afford temporary eXbilara-
tiOn and a seeming strength.
What was first used as a medicine
is subsequently taken as an excitant,
and as a repellant of the fits of de-
preston resulting from the use of
alcoholic drinks, and before the
fair victim knows it, the habit is
fixed with a grip of fearful tenacity.
The first symptoms and progress
of this disease with men are well
known, and it is not now necessary
to trace its insidious but fatal wor
kinga. 1t debases and destrOyes
4 man fast enough, but women,
when once under the influence of
this dipsomania, become even more
rretrievably lost. 1t wonId be an
easy matter to prove that cases of
Of female intemperance are more
in fashionable circles than
IS generally supposed, but it is not
our intention TO make sensatIon-
ii article. but rather to utter a
note of warning. Even if there lie
4 doubt as to the present existence
Of this vice in what is termed good
society, it certainly prevails among
women who belong to the laborine
classes, and itmay yet become no
ess prevalent with there more
'avored sisteis. When once the
fatal habit is established, the will
s so much enfeebled, and the moral
sense so blunted and debauched,
hat no ordinary power can dis
0dge it.. What will be the result
should one woman in a thousand be
,hus enslaved? We stand ap-
1alled in view of such a spectacle.
The evil may be exaggerated, but
t at least threatens, and all should
De on their guard. Let doctors be-
ware how they prescribe stimulants,
md let patients beware least they
lcquire fondn for brandy, port,
sherry, or even ale and champaign
Better to lack brilliancy and to lose
ldmirers than to purchase either
1t the price, of tablespoonful of
brandy or wine glass Of sherry.
4 man without self control is a
amentable object, but how shall
We depict an unrestrained and reck-
ess woman? Alcoholism is no
ess terrible in the drawing-roo
han the tenement, and woe he to
he home that has once felt its
,aneful influence through father,
neither, brother, OF sister !-Hearh
nd Home.