The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-04-05
IN. Y. Observer.l

Some fifteen years ago, while [ was
III the city of Paris, statement ap-
peared in one Of the daily newspa-
pers that ladies in the city of New
York, purchasing goods at fashiona-
bic stores, were in the habit Of drink
ing wine freely, furnished by the
proprietors of the stores. It was add
ed that the drinking habit among
ladies was very common in New
York, some leading women in society
being frequently intoxicated in COM
pany.
This publication excited the indig-
nation Of American residents in Paris,
and at the request Of some of them [
replied to the statement, pronouncing
it vile slander, and defending the
character of my countrywomen
against the impuation. I believed
then and believe now that the fash
| ionable stores do not furnish wine to
their lady customers Nor is the
habit Of drinking to excess among
women so common as it was said to
be in the statement to which [ re-
phi d. But the fact that refreshment
rooms are provided in connection
with some establishments encourages
the idea that women as we'll as men
are disposed to partake Of stimulating
drinks in the midst Of business hours.
| have been told that some fashiona-
BILE millinery establishments offer
cake and wine to their customers, on
opening days, and perhaps as COM
mon practice. They can better afford
to treat" their customers than mer-
chants can, for there is no other
business in which so great profit is
made on goods sold.
Tt has been gradually forced upon
the attention of the public that wo-
men are in danger of becoming
drunkards, as well as men. Every
family has it's own secrets, and the
intemperance of a wife and mother
would be more carefully concealed
than that Of the husband and father.
The disgrace is far greater. The
man is also more before the public
and his habits are better known.
Occasional intoxication would not de-
stroy the character of man of busi-
ness, while for woman or minis
ter to be seen drunk once, would be
fatal, Or nearly so.
Women are more largely addicted
to the use of opium than men are.
This is true in the country as we'll as
in the city. In the drug stores of
rural villages [ have inquired of the
apothecary ON this subject, and he has
told me that he keeps opium ready in
little packages for his women Gus
TONERS, who take it ''on the sly"
They use it for the same reason that
poor men get drunk on spirituous
liquors. Trouble, care, the burdens
Of hard lot in life lead or drive m
to drink; it first gives them pleas
ing exhilaration, and then it browns
their thoughts in the stupor Of intox-
ication. Women have their full
share of the troubles of life. Some
years ago | saw the report of an
asylum for the deranged which gave
the occupations Of the patients in con-
fnement. More of them were farm
ers' wives than any other one class of
persons. They were young wives too.
Burdened with the cares Of the house
hold, keeping no hired help, anxious
and ambitious, they succumbed to the
load. Before losing their reason how
much suffering they must have en-
dured! Poor, weak, tired, working
when hardly able to drag themselves
about, complaining of a sense Of
goneness that words will not describe
they sink beneath the weight and 60
deranged, or they die. Stimulants
are sought in the midst Of the strug-
gle. Now it is opium, and now it is
strong drink, anything to keep up
the spirits or drive away the spectres
of narrowing care. The country store
supplies them with either the solid
or the liquid medicine for their
disease, and they take it with a good
conscience because it seems to afford
at least a temporary relief.
This is among farmers in the coun-
try. And ladies in the city have even
stronger temptations to this vice.
When all sorts Of parties the very
names of which are unintelligible to
the innocent ruralist, the exhaustion
of life in town is immense To get
dressed for company is draught on
the system. A draught Of something
is often needed to supply the drain.
The round of fashionable visiting,
late hours, hot rooms, rich suppers,
thin dress and great exposure, reaction
following excitement in theatre,
opera and balls, all these furnish as
strong an inducement to take arti-
fetal stimulants, as the man of busi-
ness ever has. Thus women in the
city are led into the habit of drinking,
sometimes very privately, often with
out any concealment from the family.
Rarely do we have an example of a
drunken woman of wealth and social
position like that which engrossed
the court in Westchester county last
week. A woman of highly respecta-
BILE family and possessed of ample
fortune, fell into habits of intemper-
ance. She often came into the city
rioting in her shame. She would be
arrested and sobered, only to renew
her carousals. At last she was taken
up by her friends and tried before q
Jury who declared her incompetent tc
, manage her property. A guardian
, was appfinted.
OF course when you look into the