The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-10
some Facts about Tntemperanco.

From Hearth aud Home.
The State Board of Health of MaSsa.
chusetts have embodied In their second
annual report some curious facts about
intemperance. 1t seems that drunkenness
has been greatly on theincrease In France
for some time past, and has been pro-
ductiVe Of much crime and suffering.
Doubtless many Of the mad deeds which
are now being committed in Paris, arc
due to the Demon OF wine, or some more
tulalcoholic stimulant. Yet drink
ing does not always seem TO produce in
temperance; Tor in Italy every man
drinks wine, and some take brandy, rum,
and beer, yet intemperance Is not promi-
nent evil. Consul Rose, Of Ancona, Italy,
reports that crime committed under the
influence Of liquor Is unknown there. So
in Athens, Greece, q city Of some $4,000
inhabitants, only AZ deaths from intempe-
rance have occurred in 10 years. In
l'Switzerland they drink beer and wine
without evil efIcts, though the schnapps
and potato brandy the peasants drink,
often get them into trouble. At Bremen,
too, wine and beer are used in unlimited
quantities without evil effects; but in Co.
lOgne, 40 per cent of the crime is traceable
to hard drinking.
In Ireland, in 1858, 900 persons were
arrested for drunkenness; and the cost Of
the domestic and foreign spirits consumed
was over forty million dollars, or an aver.
age Of $37 so for every family. In 1869,
nearly nine hundred millions Of gallons
of beer and ale were consumed in Eng.
land and Scotland, besides fifteen millions
Of foreign wine and thirty million gal
lOus Of spirits. This immense consump-
ton of liquor causes thrcc.fourths Of the
crime in these countries.
The constant increase Of crimes COM
mitted under tho influence Of liquor has
led to the introduction ola new licensing
law in England, with view Of restrict
ing the sole Of liquor by reducing the
number Of public houses, which now
average. one TO every 1872 persons-to say
nothing Of the wholesale stores, or those
where liquor is sold not to be drunk on
the premises. There is quite total ab.
stinence party in great Britain; but the
most 1t has ever attempted, In tho way
Of legislation, was to try TO have law
passed granting TO q certain majority Of
the taxpayers Of q community power to
prohibit tho sale Of liquor in lis limits. In
the course Of the debate on this licensing
bill, reference was made 10 the plan adopt
cd in Wnrtemburg, where the Govern
ment owns all tho liquor.stores, placing
them In charge Of Government officer.
1t Is made the interest Of this official 10
sell as little liquor, end as much tea and
coffee rs possible, since lie is allowed u
percentage on All sales Of these milder
beverages. Such plan would hardly
work well either in England or this Coun.
try, but it Is said 10 be u valuable auxiliary
in promoting sObriety among the Wur.
temburgCrs
1t Is noteworthy in this connection that
at recent meeting Of Superintendent
and Directors Of Inebriate Asylums, held
in Philadelphia, an Association for the
Cure Of InebriatGs was formed. In the
declaration Of principles Of this AssoCia.
ton, 1t was set forth that "intempcrance
Is disease durable in the same sense that
other diseases are" and that "every lnrge
city should have Its local or temporary
home for lnebriates," and that "the law
should recognize intemperanCe US dis.
case" This view Of the case seems 10 10
gaining ground with the public; but II
will take many years to work II ont in all
lis practical bearings. Inebriatc Homes
are certainly springing up all over the
country, and many who entered them us
patients are retained as officers and man.
ayers, or become connected with similar
rCfOrmatory institutions, 1t Is also
significant fact that u bill has been
introduced in the Pennsylvania Leg.
islaturc, proposing 10 grant per.
mission TO persons TO record before mag.
istrate a pledge to abstain from drinking
intoxicating liquors, and furnishing a
BREACH Of the pledge so recorded by i'm.
prisonmCnt. The plan OF treating inc.
briates rs diseased persons ut once raises
them from tho condition OF abandoned
wrctchcs, and entities them to the same
consideration we extend TO the insane. II
would seem, therefore, that while intern.
pCranCe Is still the cause Of more than half
the crimes committed in the world, the
uniOrtunatCs who have acquired thirst
for intoxicating drink have u better chance
for reformation now than ever before,
which Is a gratifying and decided step in
advance.