The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-06
w. G. T. U.
Conducted by Members of the Portland Union.
"For God. and Home, and Natips land"

The following extracts from California
letter published in the Union Signal giving
some account OF visit of the national pTesi-
dent to San Jose, shows that the good work is
advancing there:
Miss Wizards long expected visit-as vel
come as the spring rains and May roses, 70
over; and hasten TO tell you what "goodly
seeming" its outside had The largest build
Ing in our Garden City, viz, the California
Theatre, had been rented by our W. @. Il. Y.
for this occasion, and thither, on the evening
OF the 21st OF April Miss Willard was driven.
The stage OF the theatre was deliberately dec.
GRATED with flags and flowers. A beautiful
hora cross six feet In length depended from
overhead and beneath IL, each letter perfect
gem OF artistic beauty, were the meaningful
four, w. q. L. u.
On the platform were representatives OF the
pulpit, press and the Union, and one hundred
picked singers from San Jose's legion OF musi-
cal artists, The spaces along the walls were
crowded with those who could not obtain seats,
ana very many were forced to go away for lack
even Of standing room.
IL seemed a sort Of poetioal and practical JUS
tice, that in this California Theatre OF San Jose
(where recent political convention had
pledged the repeal OF the Sunday law OF this
State, at the behest of whiskey) the foremost
champion among women for temperance,
should protest in the lame OF the women of
California. And protest she did with such
cogency OF argument, such originality OF
illustration, such chasteness of rhetoric, such
depth and eloquence as could have emanated
from source no less divine than a consecrat-
ed life and brave soul battling for the right.
Three times, IN as many days, she talked for
more than an hour to an audience OF thou
sands, comprising the lofty and lowly. the re-
former and the drunkard, the learned profess
ors and inquiring pupils.
Who can compute the results OF her labors
among us2 Who will lose the magnetism OF
her presence, or forget the example of her
Christ-like simplicity and gentle direotness?
Ia looking over the immense audiences and
recognizing here and there in that mosaic OF
faces those Of the brave and strong women whose
combination make the Union OF San Jose a
power 10 be both respected and feared was
reminded OF what occurred here three years
ago IN woman's prayer meeting
Friend introduced TO the leader OF the
meeting member "of tho same persuasion
who had been delegated 10 organize in Cali
fornia branches OF the w @. 7. Y. wherever
she found fit opening She "builded better
than she knew
Today our membership is more than one
hundred women. We sustain q fourishing
Friendly Inn" kindergarten, and free
reading room Whe have recently organized
two auxilieries which are full OF enthusiasm,
and our own knows no Abatement. What
may we not hope for this vine-growing aud
wine-making State, even though the odds are
now SO fearfnlly against US, aud prohibition,
like gallant Sheridan, of Winchester fame, Is
sky miles away"
While write Miss Willard Is moving to-
ward cur capital, Sacramento
We learn from the Superintendent OF South.
ern work that in recent occurring toar Of the
South she secured 5000 names for temperance
in six weeks. Her success was most marked in
Texas. She relates an interesting conyersa-
tiou had with an Indian chief. in which the
latter shows that he is not wanting In an idea
of the fitness Of things. He said, I'VE called
them barbarians, but he thought that in some
respects they were wiser than we were, for
they had neither saloons or jails among them.
We licensed saloons and then built jais aud
penitentiaries to put the criminals in that the
SALOONS made, and he gave the most sarcastic
laugh at our expense. He said il q man in Ills
tribe got drunk they gave him ten lashts aud
made him pay $40 fire. II he got drunk the
second time he was fined $50 and got twenty
iashes. The third fime we shoot him, for be
Amt worth to live.
A missionary writing from Japan says
King Alcohol has Japan included under bis
dominion, aud fancy his most loyal subjects
are here. No local option here TO discommode
Glorious freedom everywhere No taxes TO
worry, but vine and beer. gin aud brandy and
whisky plenty and cheap, and never screen
No temperance crusaders, no Murphy meet
ings, no law and order meetings. 1t all moves
on undlsturbed in the liquor interest, Just as
have often heard people at home wish ii were
there. Thus, if the government would only
lit the taxes and let everybody drink and sell
that wanted to then we should not have SO
mach drunkenness. / wish they could come
out here and sea how Ii works. In the foreign
Concession at Nagasaki there are forty saloons
and fba ateyrtr ufaffo ia thax, a..
not keep open all the time, but when there are
plenty Of ships In the harbor then they all
flourish.
The unfortunate part Is that The natives are
isarning to use foreign liquors. Their own
sski, distilled from rice, will intoxicate them
but il y never adnlterated and is not stronger
than the lightsst sherry, ard then ID cannot
"age" and 80 increase its intoxicating power,
as II will not keep through the rainy season.
A friend writes from Fryeburg, Me Z Oar
most successful work is the Introduction Of
Miss Colman's "Alcohol and HYGIENE into all
the public echools Of this town, seventeen in
namber.
The Hon. John Bright, in the course Of an
address at the laying Of corner stona Of
public school building in Wales, mouth or
two ago, said in regard to the public schools, 81
think that these schools, IL the masters would
40 tber GUY, may render great service to the
cause OF temperance" He went on to relate
an incident Illustrating this point Said he,
'Some years ago met gentleman in Bir-
mingham-I believe he came from the king
dom OF Saxony-aRd the question of temper
anee was being discussed. He spoke to me
about IL afterwards, and told me that 30 years
ago-and It would probably be 60 wears now
intemperauce was SO common in that country
that If theirs was a man anywhere very drunk
they would say be was drunk as a Saxon. But
he said, Now you might use the very opposite
expression, aud If yen wanted TO describe a
man who was relied upon for his sohriety, Won
would say Of him, why he ia as sober lis
Saxon Well, now, / said, tell me how
this has been brought about. Have you had
any great changes in your laws with regard to
the sale Of intoxicating llquors?' and he said 90
far as lie knew there had been no changes OF
any Importance, mono that struck his mind.
But he said, u believe the change has been
made entirely by tho schools