The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-22
How Women Begin to Drink.

Out of an examination of 204 ineb-
riate women. have found that 128 be-
gan their drinking by the use of beer;
81 by drinking whisky (as punch at
first. usually; 20 began with wine, 8
with gin, and IL could not remember
what beverage was first used. These
young girls, mill and shop girls, large
ly began by going to some so-called
refreshment saloon with their friends,
and the debutante usually began by
slipping little tonic (made of hops.
sugar and water, charged with ear
honiO acid gas and colored with burnt
sugar.; beer soon followed, and soon
rioting, other kinds of intoxicants, reck-
lessness and crime; and what was an
innocent, foolish girl yesterday, is to-
day branded criminal, and all for 4
glass of beer. Alasi how many such
ruined lives have seeni
Beer was also the beverage which
the older inebriate women used to en-
tice the younger ones to drink, A call
upon one of these old sots was the sig
nal for pitcher of beer to be sent for,
and little coaxing and urging would
result in the first fatal glass being in
dulged in. The steps were then easy.
Beer is the trap which the drunkard-
maker sets for the feet of the unwary.
And he usually makes sure of his prey
because of it A glass of raw whisky
would have presented but slight attrac-
ton to these overworked, half-fed girls,
had it been offered them at first. After
that sleeping devil, the appetite for
intoXicants, had been aroused by beer,
it became altogether adifferent matter,
and. at last, in many cases, chlorOform
OF pepperment oil was added to the
drink of these maddened creatures, so
furious had the appetite become for
something stronger.
1t may be of interest to note that OF
the 204 inebriate women 126 had been
guilty of other crimes, and yet in but
sixteen instances did the first commit
ment of a crime ante-date the habit of
drinking.
Several hopeless drunkards, far gone
toward insanity, had never drank any
other intoxicant than beer.
One hundred and thirty-two were
committed to the prison for drunken
ness; Sc for offenses against chastity
and public order, and 16 for crimes
against property. Their ages when
last committed averaged 800 years.
Sixty-five between 80 and Al years OF
age; 40 between % and 81 years of age;
81 between 20 and &c years of age; 80
between Is and 81. The remainder were
over Al years of age.
Many of the older ones could not tell
how many sentences they have received,
showing the absolute uselessness OF
Furnishing these poor creatures while
the temptations are left in their way.
To show the effect upon the children
of inebriate parentage, collected the
| following:
OF Iii inebriate mothers, thirty-three
| of whom had inebriate husbands, 40e
children were born. OF these. 227 per
ished in infancy and early childhood
and of the survivors many are doomed
evidently to an early death. In many
| cases, tho death of these children wa,
indirectly due to the inebriety of the
parents-as cold, deprivation, etc
Ages: Twenty-seven of the 204 womer
began to drink intoxicants before they
were 10 years of age; IL between tn,
ages of 9 and 10; "a between IA aud 81
81 between 20 and &c; 33 between 2;
and 81; 19 between 80 and Al; ) be
tween 40 and 81. ~.
Average age. 184 years. More thar
one-half had formed habits of intem
| perance before they were 21 years o
age, and more than one-third at thu
giddy age of from l5 to 20 inclusive.
One hundred and thirty-two begar
to drink socially. and with femal,
friends.-L. N. Hall, Supt Women
| Reform'g. Prison, SherbOrn, Mass.