Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-10-12
Drawing-Room Drinking.
Thr F.OYc of strong Foiaitnns En-
GrcasliG Among English,
Wumcn.
London Truth,

Not long ago strange scene took
place in a pretty garden not hundred
miles from London. The trec-shadcd
lawn was scattered over with seats, with
here and there Il bright-colOred Persian
rug for the special behoof of any guests
who objects to open-air amuscments on
account of the clamp grass 10 some
minds grass is always damp. 1t was
early in the afternoon, and the only
tenants Of the garden We're the servants,
who were arranging refreshments upon
some tables under the trees. They
seemed full Of mods and becks, and
whispers Of apparently mysteriously
import passed among them. A carriage
drivca up to the gate, and two ladies',
entering, took round for their hostess
The servant who has admitted them goes
in search Of his mistress, and few mo-
ments aiterward young and beautifully
dressed woman issues from the house,
her face deeply flushed, her eyes half
closed, md her gait uncertain. just at
this moment another carriage drives up,
Il gentleman and lady being the orcll-
pants. They, too, enter the garden gate,
and advance toward the house across
The lawn. As they approach the un-
certain, sWaying figure Of their hostess
they look mt each other Significantly,
and the lady says in low voice: 81
WAS afraid Of this. Where can Mr.. X.
be to allow her to lie seen IN this slatc?"
The Interpretation Of those wild looks,
that disurdercd hair, and those meaning
less words is that Mrs. Y. is intoxicated,
though not sufficiently so to be quite
helpless. She wandrrs about among her
guests, her condition, however, being
20 palpah!c, so unmistakable, that the
majority laugh and twitter, while the
friendly few pity, though 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 the groups Of gaily dressed
people into the house, touched even the
lsuglers with pity.
This il no cEaggcration Of facts. 1t
is, unfortunately, Il scene from real life,
and, | fear, not an uncommon one. The
love Of strong drink appears to be in
crcasug among the educated women Of
our day. During the season Just past
instances of this sort were 20 frequent
w ~ itaN 10 lllP CONJECTURE lllU' hluV
of epidemic of drink was peryading
those classes of society in which culture,
position, and the possession Of every
comfort Of life would appear to be n sut-
lcient guarantee against 30 degrading Il
vice, "Society' ladies', in fact, live too
mach upon excitement not TO suffer
from The inevitable reaction. For u few
month. IN the year they endure contin-
ned fatigue in troaling the social mill,
and for the remainder they arc prey to
tguui. They try the first dose Of chloWl
MS nm experiment. "My eyes look so
dun and heavy this morning, So-and- |
50 saws chlolal is such capital thing:
think I'll try IT," In this ease, as in
that Of rouge, It is not "the first step
that cosis.n il IL easy enough. But, !
from being an experiment it becomes n !
practice, anl from practice 1t develops
into a necessity. II t. ma longer servant,
but master. My lady has her half pint |
Of champagne about nm hour after break |
fst, another NJ luncheon, glass Of liq- |
uor instead Of afternoon tea, regular
sequence of wines at dinner, and bran |
DIV In her pnst-prnliAl coffee. Her
choral I'M her drc-siug-ro0m Is ~ per-
mancnt and Indispensable nm arrange
mpnt ~ her bath, and much sooner
missed from lis usual position than her
Riblp.