St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-30
and physiology should be taught in the pub
lie schools. The disposition towards alcohol

| lie schools. The disposition towards alcohol
Is NOT INCRE AsING
in this country, as was supposed. Men did
not drink alcohol because they liked it, but
because they sought some stimulus, although
| in this country people were working on too
much stimulus and drawing on their capital
of vitality. There was no use in denying that
alcohol was a medicine, and often, in the
practice of every physician, saved life. 1t
was often abused by physicians by admins
tering it in tonics. There was no way in
which the evils of civilization could be met
as by teaching these principles, which were
embodied in hygiene and public health. The
teaching of hygiene and physiology in the
public schools should be in relation to things
thoroughly practical, as there was no time
for philosophical discussion. The speaker
read little pamphlet on the subject pre-
pared by him few years ago.
At the conclusion of DIR. Hewitt'S re-
marks Prof. Congdon and Miss Jansen
favored the audience with duet, When
the Swellows Come"
Prof. Reynolds. by request of the Mime
sofa Woman'S Christian Temperance union,
offered resolution favoring the passage of
a law requiring instruction on the nature
and effect of alcohol and narcotics on the
the human system in all schools supported
by the state. The discussion was opened
by Supt. Kiehle, who favored the teaching
of hygiene, which should precede physi-
ology. He thought the effects of alcohol
should be taught. His own Judgment was
that the cause of the present excessive use
of alcohol was owing to social conditions
rather than overwork. Many women were
very much overworked yet few of them
either drink or smoke. For his own part
he had never thought it wicked to drink or
smoke. He rather enjoyed seeing old peo-
pie getting comfort out of a pipe. but he
told boys that he thought it best for him
and for them to let drink and tobacco alone.
Supt Bradley, of Minneapolis, was
called on by the chair. and gave some re-
suits Of law similar to the one proposed.
i'll New York state. He said nobody OPP
posed it. and it had been adopted in twenty
three states without serious opposition.
He did not think the influence of alcohol
should be taught as
A MORAL SUBJECT,
but as part of hygiene. He felt the
resolution would pass without opposition.
Supt Kiehle asked DR.. Hewitt whether
abstinence was in proportion to persons
intelligence in these matters, that is. how far
instruction would affect persons habits.
The doctor thought this a philosophical ques-
ton, but he proceeded to object in toto to
the resolution. He stated that Prof.
Brady was mistaken in his idea of the
laws of the different states. These laws
required in connection with physiology and
hygiene the effects of alcohol be taught. 1t
was going too far to teach children that the
use of tobacco or an occasional glass of
wine was an unmitigated evil, because the
child could go to his fathers table and see
this done. This was overshooting the work,
~ r1O boH r.frof fn oh fll
thus in the public schools.
Supt. Kiehle offered an amendment to
the effect that the effect of alcohol be taught
as part of instruction in hygiene.
l.. c. Lord. of st. Peter, thought the
points discussed should be taken into the
family and obedience and self control
taught. As far as he was concerned he
would like the resolution LAID on the table,
as it was delusiOn and a snare to think
that instructing children in these things
would make them temperate.
A. NJ. Sperry, of Dodge county, would
like to see the resolution pass as all expert
ment, while his profound judgment told
him it would be failure. Teaching chill
dren these things would not amount to a
row of pins towards keeping them temper
ate. He taught his boys not to use alcohol
because it was dangerous. W. NJ. West,
of Faribault, protested against the reSolu-
ton, as teacher. because it would require
text book to enforce it. He thought
there had been enough of this trying to
mend the world by machinery; nor did he
believe in trying to lift ourselves over the
fence by the boot straps. He moved to lay
the resolution on the table. The motion
was duly recorded. but the movers gave
away to Prof. Grey, of st. Cloud, who
spoke in opposition to the resolution. He
favored this instruction in hygiene in nor
NAL schools, where it should be made
prominent. By general consent further
discussion of the subject was postponed
until this afternoon, and the secretary was
instructed to invite Mrs. n. II. Winchell,
of Minneapolis, secretary of the W. c. t.
u, to be present. The meeting closed
with the singing of a solo. Last Night"
by Miss Nellie Mabon, adjournment being
until o'clock this morning.