Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-23
nkenness i'm France.

Paris Letter IN LONDON truth
NJ. Grevy told me some time ago that he con-
stantly found drunkenness set down as an ex-
tenuating circumstance in the cases of felons
whom he was asked to pardon. NJ. Barthelemy
st. Hilaire, few weeks back, said TO me: "A
law in half dozen words might be passed by
the chambers which would save both the re-
public and France. 1t would be one to sup
press every drinking shop at which alcohol is
retalled by the glass, in no matter what form"
Drunkenness used not to be French vice. but
what with the destruction of the vines by phyl-
loxera, the manufacture of brandy out OF beef
root and potatoes, the beer devoid of malt and
hops which floods the cafes, and the drugged
wine, the race is going to the dogs In the towns
That ability which makes the Frenchman a
great artist renders him unable TO resist
the noxious effects of alcohol on the nerv-
Gus system: Wnsn the artisan earning
with nip OF vermouth or absinthe, which Is al
once an irritant and a stimulant. Then he
drinks half q liter OF manufactured" wine, in
which there is not drop of grape juice. After
his coffee he takes pousse cafe of beet-roOt or
potato brandy. on which he pours chasse cafe.
and finally q rincette. The rincette Is all that
remains In the carafon or brandy decanter of
the liquor, which is thrown into the coffee cup
Az gala dinners half dozen different kinds of
wine are served; and there is not minister or
leading deputy or senator who does not dine
out four or f1ve times q week. Formerly, there
used to be q small genuine wine to be drunk
with water, and then Bordeau and Burgundy
Which had had time TO ; grow MILD IN the cellar
Is Q rough, strong beverage from Libourne 1t
Is followed at soup by fiery vintage of the
sherry or Medeira type. which is twice offered.
This is because the Orleans princes have been
trying to make that dreadful xucco of the due
d'Aumale the fashion. Chablis is served with
the oysters, and afterward the glasses are
successfully filled with Bordeaux, Burgundy,
hock, champagne and Luuel. The "cham payne"
In 10 cases out OF 20 IL heavy Nouvray
California champagne, also very heady, il max.
ing its way At Partisan dinners. Gambetta used
to leave no drinking ceremony out when he
dined en- vile until his health broke down when
he confined himself TO old Bordeaux, and took
very little Of that. have often sat opposite
young ministers and observed that they, too
ran the gauntlet of all the seven or eight wine
glasses that thanked their plates. They were
table, and nobody would have thought OF
charging them with intemperance because they
drank OF all the yintages offered them. But Il
must have told on mind and health In the long
run, and perhaps would account for their iaxity
In keeping electoral promises French women
are not often guilty OF the sin Of inebriety.
never saw one drunk or tipsy or In any wy
they DO a. ample Justice TO the vintage Get be.
French statesman In generally sober. Ciemen-
ceau L. Q water drtnker, which perhaps II why
he has never yet broken faith with his electorl.
hear IL said that the O'Clock teas do not pro-
mote temperance. Liquors are served at them,
ttoners, and notably ~ the cakeshop In the
Rue dc RivOu facing the Bodeea. The fair
drinkers Of nips, should In justice add, are
more often foreign than native. One Of the Brit
ish duchesses, who often follows the sWalloVa
patyonlses this eakeshops