Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-12-01
WHY WOMEN DRINK.
INTERESTING STATISTICS COHCRRx
ING THE SAME.
Whaa . PsEale Ply sician has e Say -
the subject.


At the Social Science Association, in
session at Syracuse, DR.. Crothers held
that drunkenness Is q disease rather
than vice. DR.. Hall, Of the Massa-
ehusetts Woman's Prison, said that of
the 204 cases examined by her 1872 were
committed to the prison for drunken
ness, IS for crimes against chastity and
property. Their ages when committed
averaged thirty and one-half years.
Twenty seven began to use Intoxicating
! drinks before they were ten years Of
age; II began between the ages OF nine
and fifteen years; "a between fourteen
| and twenty-one years; 81 between twenty
| and twenty-six years; 33 between twenty
FIVE and thirty-one years; 10 between
thirty and forty-one years: and 3 be-
tween forty and fifty-one years. The
average age was eighteen and one third
years.
More than one-haH had formed habits
of intemperancebefore they were twenty
one years Of age, and more than one
third at the giddy ages between hfte n
and twenty inclusive.
One hundred and thirty two claimed
to have drunk socially and never other
wise; AZ admitted that they loved the
liquor which they drank; l l gave trouble
or anger as reason. for the indulgence:
IA were more or less i'll when they be-
gan, and l regret to state that in three
instances it was alleged that the appe-
tite was awakened by the use of stimu-
lants which had been prescribed by a
physician. In the other cases mother,
husband, or some ofiicious friend had
recommended or urged their use as a
medicine. One hundred and thirty two
began to drink with female friends, %
with male friends GO of the % were the
husbands Of the women), 8 with male
and female friends together, and alone
A few began by drinking beer in mill or
shop while taking lunch with their COM
panions.
When the indulgence commenced ia
we're single, 70 married, 8 married but
separated from their husbands, and 10
widows. Fifty-eight were engaged in
domestic service, "A worked in mills, and
fifteen in shops Casually shoe shops).
One hundred and ninety-seven resided
in the city, and in the country. One
hundred and twenty-eight began by
drinking beer, 81 by drinking whisky
casually as punch at first; 20 began
with wine and with gin; IL were una
BILE to remember the beverage first used.
A large number averred that they fell
into habits OF intoxicahon by first
using a substance familiarly known as
tonic.
Ninety-one began to drink at their
own homes, 49 at the houses Of friends.
and 64 at saloons.
In conclusion, Mrs. DR.. Hass said she
intended to call attention to few prom
inent facts, foremost Of which was this
that in girls of the laboring classes
habits Of inebriety are most likely to be
formed while they are still very young
and that, almost without exception
association is given as the cause. Over
and over again the story is repeated: 81
got to going with girl, or Ia Of girls
who drank, and 80 got to drinking my
self. never should have drank, and
shouldn't drink now, il it wasn't fol
company" That 80 many OF our work
ing girls are becoming drunkards. drink
ing openly at the bar Of G saloon Will
their companions, is q most serious mat
ter, and points to most degraded stat,
of the social standards among them.
Many Of the married women who, liv
ing in their own homes, formed Labi,
Of inebriety. did SO by "neighboring
with each other, beer being brought il
or sent for by one OF their number VIII
drank, and soon the indulgence becam
. general One old female topper in
, neighborhood may be looked upon as
| common centre Of contayion.