Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-29
Drinking Among Fashionable Women

England brought out mauy startling facts con-
cerniug the manner and life ofa family which
moved in high circle of English society and
eoi,yed ali the advantages and uxures of
wrath. The revelation made OF the moral
character of both Mr.. and Mrs Bravo is of a
sort to awakeo thought, if not to excite great
sunrise. 10 any one who knows something of
she tooe OF modern fashionable society.
Bu; there is only one of the facts disclosed a
.k.ic,ou snatched from the closet of the Bravo
honsehoid to which we shall now refer. 1t Is
tha; which concerns the drinking habits OF
Mrs Bravo. 1t seems that she vas 40 inordl-
maze consumer Of Intoxicating liquors. and was
NOT = stranger to actual drunkenness. % the
nigh, Of her husbands poisoning she Was so
far gnrc under the effects OF bottle oil sherry,
:, s1y nothing Of the drinks between drinks,
that she was unable to comprehend the exact
sltua ion wheu it was explained to her. Nor
was this an exceptional experience with her
She was in the habit of getting into that condl-
tlou and the fact was known to all her servants.
Yet she was a lady who trequcnted the country
houses OF the English nobility, and previous to
hc poisoning of her husband, spite OF her To-
Sr!gues with DR.. Gully and her drinking pro-
per1ities, was welcomed IN high society aud
bore character which had not been re-
preached
ihe fact regarding the drunkenness Of Mrs.
Bravo suggests tie lUquiry whether there was
not som: tru;; ia the declaration OF London
newspaper, u few years ago, that fashionable
women were too mvth given to tipping. The
evidence, indeed, acoImulates that the state
ments then made were fouuded 10 fact. The
tendency Of fashionable women to get into the
habit OF using suuaaDts Is something uf which
every physician 10 large practice Is aware, emu
the d.porabie results which come from 1t,
hidden from the knowledge OF their acquant-
ance, but necessarily known to their doc
ors, are Of a sort to warn all women
against seeking to gain the ARTIFICIAL excitement
to he got out of alcoholic stimulates. Ii Is un-
lou5t. dly true that macy of oar women who
indulge 10 the dissi pa ion of fashionable society
;src given TO drinking champagne aud even
virtuous liqu,rs. The practice also is growing,
Al, I ;iS Jalcul results are apparent to any one
who Is wall acquainted with the lovely creatures
WHO loru our gay saloons Of fashion. Not long
.y,a y3ung girj, who had developed Charm
ing capacity tCr music and happy social tact,
became 80 hopeless victim of dipsomana that
she was taken to an asylum, where her appe
tie uIi bo restrained, i complete aud shat
tered wreck at the opening OF womanhood.
Ills is only one case Gni Of many. The habit
s.ay,s with the experience OF the stimu alng
fleets of LIQUOR after the exhaustion OF fash
i,aab!e dissipation, or when it is desired to
star, a guycty that does not cone spontaneous
". The stimuapt soon and easily becomes
necesslly, and before she herself is aware OF it
the woman is tcprr. Within the lssc twenty
year, the freedom with which womer drink
vines aud other liquors has become greater
aud greater. There are some OF them 10 fasn
iou.bc it wh, really seeu to have stronger
heads than men, and to be able to carry their
wine, brandy and liquors with q steady gait
and tongue in no wise thckened; but the more
iclicate nervous organization of a woman causes
the effects Of the strain to be more serious tdan
III the case of a man. A ian, toe, who ODee
acquires the habit of drinking is apt to consutne.
MI @normuus amount of liquors of all sorts. Ii
our physicians who practice among the ta'h-
louablr people of the city could reveal their
knowledge 90 this subject, it would astouud
the public. OF course we do not bring this
charge Of dipsomanla against our ladies gencr-
ally. 1t is 10 truth only iu exceptional oases
lnat i: exists; but We depore the circumstances
ltat more or less OF drinking is growing to be
looked on as venial otfense in fashionable |
women Ii is dangerous vice, and in its
tram arc likely to follow others still more dan
gerous.-Ne1 York Sun.