The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-03

invited. / have been DESTROYS of having
a certain theme thoroughly discussed
among ourselves, as it has most impor.
tant social bearing. have asked you, as
those competent to discuss it, to meet me
informally, this evening. now have the
pleasure of introducing to you Mrs, Bene-
dict Black, our friend, who will open the
discussion with a short paper"
Mrs. Thurston had chosen wisely. Mrs,
Black was of the highest social scale,
lady whose acquaintance was considered an
honor by every guest present. Providena
italy, she was an incorporating be-
lever in the temperance work, and fur.
thermore possessed the requisites for pre-
sentlng the subject in hand forcibly and
well. When she announced her subject,
"The Wine Question:" Frank Thurston
looked at his wife with something verv
like horror depicted on his countenance.
But Marcia, very properly, sat with her
eyes fixed upon the reader.
The Wine Question" was further
subdivided into the chemical constitution
of wine, with its physical effects. the AZ.
feet of heredity, the social aspects of the
wine question ending finally with the
query, I" Is wine dangerous factor in
our social life ?"
AS this paper was designed to BRING
out discussion, it was tentative merelv'
At its close there was breeze, Mrs
Thurston had taken care to have enough
Incorporating believers in total absfi.
nence among her guests to give that side
of the discussion fair showing. More
over, being believers in this social reform.
they were well up in the subject. while
| tho Ofharo hoipn rpara1u IaFa =
what was not, and could not be made a
question of right as against wrong, held a
very weak position. The battle was a
very lively one, when the question of the
physical effects of wine came up. The
defendants refused to admit all the in.
furious effects asserted by the temper.
ance side, Wbereupon, venerable and
widely known physician who had beer.
we verify believe, provided for the coca.
sion. arose and confirmed the statements
of Mrs. Black and her side with distinct.
ness, as demonstrated in the dissectinp
room. On the question of heredity, he
was emphatic, illustrating his arguments
by the following story, taken from his own
practice of forty years.
81 long ago made up my mind that
did not know, and could not find out.
when | might administer alcoholic stimu.
lants to advantage. This conclusion was
reached by case in my practice, as fol-
lows
GA gentleman whom [ attended was
dying of consumption. 1 prescribed old
Bourbon whiskey as TIE only means OF
prolonging his life. His wife opposed
me saying she would rather her husband
would die without whiskey than to live to
be a drunkard In Difference to her
wishes, the whiskey was not used. At
the last bottle of wine was brought
into the house. and little of it admins.
tered in the dying hour. The wife, in
her grief and bereavement and the nerv.
GUS prostration consequent, used the re.
maipder of the wine. Ladies and gentle.
men," said the old physician, solemnly.
sin six months | saw the woman die Of
delirum tremens. Heredity was at the
bottom of it, and since then, have never
known when l might safely prescribe al
cohol, for back CT US, everyone, lie at
least ten generations of hard drinkers"
Mrs. Thurston's drawing room meeting
was complete success. At its close
Judge Balm arose and asked if this dis.
cussion might not be continued on flu.
ture occasion. Whereupon Mrs. Black
gave cordial invitation to all present
to meet in her rarlors two weeks from
that time, "when." she added, 1--WE shall
take up the cudgels to each other again"
"With difference, Mrs. Black and, 81
turning to his hostess. Mrs. Thurston,''
said Mr.. Jameson. the most influential
young man in his set, "for on that occa
sion | shall be with the total abstainers."
"Collation ?" you ask. Yes, certainly.
At the conclusion of Mrs. Blacks paper
charming rejection was served on small
, tables to the guests as they sat- thus, with
inspiring tea, usheriug in the discussion.
"What did Frank Thurston say to his
, wife when their guests had departed ?"
! [ believe I would rather not tell =
Union Signal.