The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-13
Coffee Houses.


It is q principal in algebra that you cannot
eliminate quantity from an equation with
out putting something exactly equal in its
place; this is also principal in human
nature The neglect of it has led to the fail
ure Of many attempted reforms, and will lead
to the failure of many more.
We are glad to see that our enterprising
religious contemporary, tho New York Ob-
sercer, recognizes this principle, ancl advo-
Gates the establishment Of something to take
the place Of the saloon as social center, as
we'll as the abolition, so far as that is posi-
BILE, Of the saloon itself
The saloon, in metropolitan lfe-or in any
city or even village life, for that matter-is
more than place where men pander to de-
praved apEetltes. 1t satisfies not only thirst
for liquor. but thirst for human companion
ship. 1t is the poor mans club. II we are
to abolish the saloon, we must put something
in place of it. If a substitute can be found
that will offer all the social attractions of the
the Intoxicating liquor, then thu chance OF
aboiishing the saloon is largely increased.
The only thing that ever has succeeded in
taking the place of the saloon so far Is the
coffee house or cocoa room. In Liverpool
there are now si1ty-one Of the these coffee
houses paying an average yearly dividend OF
ten per cent. on the capital invested, and in
the whoe of England there are more than
two hundred.
Such houses have, to small extent, been
established in this country; but they have
generally be run, not as business, but as
8 phianthropic enterprise or charity. They
are not likely to succeed on charitable
basis. Men are shy of charitable or avowedly
philanthropic institutions Of this kind. They
prefer to feel that they are giving value re-
ceived for that they get. Furthermore there
are apt to be too many restrictions in char
liable coffee house. In many of them men
cannot smoke, or talk above a whisper. They
cannot play games other than checkers.
Such places are not attractive, and will never
'supplant the saloons, Coffee houses, without
wandering at all to really vicious tastes,
Should be made as attractive as possible, with
as few restrictions as possible. Says the
Ob:eryer:
"rhe rum power is being weakened every
day by the attacks made on 1t from the
ground of politics. Of morals, and OF religion.
Attack it from the social side and the llns OF
circumv alatiun is complete Let something
be devised which shall take the place OF the
saloon as O resort for the masses, making up
for all that it lacks OF the features OF the
saloon in honest comfort, good cheer and real
homelikenoss, and the most difficult point
yet remaining in the problem Of the drink
evil is solved"
Cur contemporary IS rlgnt IL IS bne social
feature of the saloon that constitutes its
main strength to-day. Let that be sup.
planted and its power is more than half gone.
.-New York Mail and E:rpress.
Hereditary Alcoholism.
The e"c> ~ IiGI itary ALCOHOLISM are IN
tcrestinEly described by DR.. T. u. Crolhers.
IN the OVuiur Science Monthly. In persons
of sound mind, but infected with All alco.
holic taint, DR.. Crothers has observed some
singular instances in which, at times of en-
element, and without any US, OF intoXi-
cauts, every symptom Of intoyication is ex-
hiJited. An unfortunate treasurer Of
large mandatory upon belng accused of
IL Styling his BOOKS, suddenly appeared to
lie intoxicated, both looking and walking
like one wlo had drunk large quantities OF
spirits. The next day he recovered, and
then mnde a full, and satisfactory explana-
ticn. His father had Teen a sailor and a
free drinker. Hardly less astonishing is The
sudden, sympathetic drunkenness of persons
who have formerly Geeu addicted to e1
cessivc use Of into1icants. A prominent
military man dining with some Old COM
ratles, who became intoxicated, gu ldenly,
though he had drunk nothing but coffee, be-
came as hilarious us the rest, made foolish
speech, and at length, had to be taken
lume in state ofstupidlty. OF temperance
lecturers who be ,ame intoxicated while en-
gagged in describing the effects of alcohol,
Dr. Crothers gives some curious instances