The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-02-22
The Beverages Of Civilization


There is probably not single human
being of adult age who does not, at
times, crave food or drink, the former
more stimulating than plain meats
or vegetables, the latter more comfort
ing than water. Theoretically, in
quantity and quality, those viands
and beverages which are adequate to
the maintenance of the vital organism
at it's normal equipose are accounted
ufficient-anything beyond this meas
| ure being set down as injurious but
it would be hard to find an individual
by whom, in some mode or other, this
rule is not practically transcended.
The immense amounts of tea and cOf-
fee, spices and condiments-all of
which are stimulating articles-that
are consumed in the civilized countries
| of the world are testimonials that hu-
manity, in its more advanced as well
as in its barbarous stages, is not con.
tent with those dietary materials, how
ever excellent of their kind, whereby
ordinary strength may be continued
and an average measure of functional
| activity preserved.
| The savage nations of the world,
who have not the information or the
means essential to the production of
stimulating drinks, gorge themselves
with food whenever they have an op-
portunity as their only accessible mode
of dissipation. No sooner, however.
does tribe Of human beings begin to
emerge from the condition of simple
animality than it is seen to cast about
| for something, in most cases bever-
age, by means of which q spree, may
be given to the spirits, and, on occa-
sions, eonviviality promoted. Like
| wise it is observable that in proportion
as civilization has advanced and sci
ence has been enlisted for the improve
ment of the industrial arts. there has
been an Increased demand for excite
ments of O more uniform, refined and
highly concentrated description, an
| increased production and an increased
consumption.
Ii the use of stimulating commodi-
ties is SO wrong, so inimical to human
life, SO obstructive of human progress,
and SO balefui in its effects upon socie-
| ty that it ought to be prohibited and
! the production CT the same forbidden
here is q paradox. Men, some mad
-dened by drink and some by the want
of it, for the rates of self if-desJructives
| is somewhat higher in prohibiJory
than in non-prohibitory communities,
commit suicide; but it is hardly to be
believed that humanity is SO faultily
constructed that whole races of men
wilfully or wantouly work out THEFT
own extinguishment or fall into ways
by which the destiny allotted to them
in their creation, their collective origin
and environment, is defeated. Bad as
! the phenomena of drunken abandon
ment may be in individual instances,
and that it is pitiful beyond desorip-
ton there is no denying, there is no
ground for the dread which well.in-
tentioned, no doubt, but extremely
narrow and short-sighted sentiment
alists seek to inspire, that our race, our
civilization, our social relations, our
productive and distributive industries,
our advance in intelligence, or any
thing by which the the common spirit
and character is reflected is in danger
of premature decay or of sudden dis
solution in consequence of the bever-
ages imbibed by its individuals,-[The
American Register.