The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-09
Dr~wing.Room Drinking.

i Not long ago a strange scene took place
Ia pretty garden not hundred miles from
London. The tree shaded lawn was scat
tered over with seats, with here aud there
bright-colored Persian rug for the special
behoof of any guests who object. to open.
air anlusements on account of the t'damp
grass. To some minds grass is always
damp. 1t was early in the afternoon, and
the only tenants Of the garden were the ser.
wants, who were arranging refreshments
uiron some tables under the trecs. They
seemed full Of mods and becks, and whs-
pers Of apparently mysterious import pass.
ed among them. A carriage drives up to
the gate, and two ladies, entering, look
round for their host ess. The servant who
has admitted them goes in search of hls
mistress, and q few moments afterward a
young and beautifully dressed woman
issues from the house, her face deeply
flushed, her eyes half closed and her gait
uncertain. Just at this moment another
carriage drives up, q gentleman aud lady
besng the occupants. They, too, enter by
the garden gate, and advance towards the
house across the lawn. AS they approach
the uncertain, swaying figure of their host.
ess they look at each Qter significantly, and
the lady says in a low voice: II was afraid
of this. Where can Mr. X. ,be to allow
her 10 be seen In this state ~ ..,t
The Interpretation Of those wild looks,
that dlsordered hair, and those meanlng gless
words that Mrs. A., Isl intoxicated, though
not sufficiently 80 to te quite helpless. She
Sho wanders about among her guests, her
condition, however, being 80 palpable. 90
unmistakable, that the majority laugh and
litter, while the friendly few pity thougl,
they condemn her. The painful scene was
ended by the arrival of her husband, whose
look Of misery as he led his wife on his
arm through tho groups of gaily-drcssed
people into the house n>touched cyenV the
laughers with pity. f,. .... ~, 8. a
p, This Is no exaggeration of facts It IS,
unfortunately, a scene from real life, and,
l fear, not an uncommon one. The love
of strong drink appeared to be increasing
among the educated women of our day.
During the season just past Instances OF
this were so frequent as to lead to the con
lecture that klnd of epidemic Of drink
was pervading those classes of society In
which culture, position, and the possession
of every comfort Of life would appear to be
a sufficient guaranty against 80 degrading
vice. ''Soclety ladies" live too much
upon excitement not to suffer from the Inc.
vitable reaction. For Q few months of tho
year they endure continuen fatigue in tread
ing the social mill, and for the remainder
they are a prey to ennui. They try the
first dose lchloral as an experiment. ''My
eyes look 80 dull and heavy this morning.
So-and 80 says. chloral Is such. capital
thing, / think III try It," In this case, as
in that rouge, it is not tue ''tirst step that
costs" II Is easy enough. But from 80
a practice 1t develops Into necessity. II
is no longer servant, bnt master. My
lady has her half pint of champagne about
an hour after breakfast, another aL lunch.
eon, glass of liquor instead Of afternoon
tea, regular sequence Of wines at dinner,
and brandy in her post-brandial coffee. Her
chloral In her dressing room is as perma.
nent and Indispensable an arrangement as
her bath, aud much sooner missed from Its
usual position than her Bible.