The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30

Aim sure your fatal blow,
And hurl this monster from his sphere.
King Alcohol must 60, go, go!
National Temperance Advocate.
Women and Wine in Washington.
1.-THE story published in the Star a.few days
ago,n said retired naval officer to Wash.
ington Star reporter, "brings to my mind
several sad cases that have come to my
knowledge where the wives Of officers OF
both branches Of the service have become
addicted to the excessive use OF liquor. In
some instances the habit has been cured
while in others the appetite became TOO
strong to be resisted and the unhappy VIC
Tins died from over-indulgence. or course.
other causes for death were given out such
as pneumonia, heart disease, rheumatism,
ETC., but those who were acquainted With all
the circumstances knew that the women died
from whisky. Why, I knew one who. when
she had no liquor in the house, would go to
her dressing case and drink the cologne that
she used as perfume"
"Why should officers wives acquire this
habit any more than other ladies' In soclety:
asked the Star man.
1.-The cases are not confined to army and
naval circles, by good DEAL" was the reply;
"but I happen to know more aoout Gna1
class. remember q sad case that hap
pened in this city some years ago Ihe
wife Of an army officer and lady frleno
went down to the marine barracks one Mon
day morning to witness the guard mount;
After this was over they were entertained
by champagne lunch, at which the officers
wife drank more than was good for her. She
did not realize it at the time, nor until she
got ready to 60 home. Then she found that
though her head was comparatively clear she
was really very drunk in her limbs. She
could not walk straight. She called one OF
the officers to her and plainly told him her
condition, relying, Of course, upon his honor
as a gentleman not to betray her confidence:
He called carriage and took the lady and
her friend home That was all right. but
unfortunately about week afterward the
Young officer himself got under the influence
of liquor at a quiet little gathering, and told
the whole story. In the party was man
who knew the lady very well, and was per-
sonal friend Of her husband. He lmmeoi-
ately administered rebuke to the lntoAl'
Gated young man which sobered him at once,
and then the others were put upon their
honor not to repeat the story. He told me
that if the husband ever found out that the
young man had told the story there would
have been personal encounter.
1.-TWO years ago had singular expert
ence myself. was going along F street and
stepped into large vestibule to light cigar,
as the wind was quite high. As struck
match I was surprised to lind woman slt-
ting on the lower step. She was richly
attired, wearing a sealskin sacque, SILK
DRESS and everything about hes betoEened
wealth and refinement. / went to her and
found that she was badly intoxicated. just
then the watchman of the building came up,
and we took this woman between US and
walked her around the square for three
quarters of an hour until she got compara-
tivoly sober. Then she took out her card
case to give me her address, ana I was sur
prised still more to find that she was the wife
of an officer whom had known very we'll.
I called carriage and said would take her
home. After we got in she begged me TO
drive around for a while until she was
little more composed. did so, and finally
left her at her own door about midnight.
lShe told me that she feared at first was 60
ing to take her to the police station, and tna5
the idea Of being disgraced In that way mad
a good deal to do with bringing her to ner
senses" -.
"Do you think the habit is on the increase!'
ssNo, I do not. On the contrary l don't
think there are SO many women VINO drink
wine habitually now as there were ten years
ago, and I think the number il lessenlng
every year. Wine and liquor are not so ex-
,tensively use in society as they were years
ago, and the number Of houses at which wine
and even stronger liquors can be had by
guests ad ibtum is now very small. You
notice that every New Year the majority Of
people who keep open house now provide
coffee and chocolate for their callers instead
iof wine and punch. as was formerly the Gus.
tom. This is very encouraging sign. for IL
keeps temptation away from young men and
young women. All, ! have known young
girls who acquired the appetite for strong
drink from accepting the hospitalities OF their
friends, and some of them from the free use
of wine at their own fathers table, l re-
member being at a reception several years
ago at which there was the greatest profu-
sion Of wine, while bowls Of good stiff punch
were in every ante-room. One young girl !
noticed lowering about the punch bowls ana
drank good deal. I saw her dancing after
ward and came to the conclusion that sne
would work off any effect OF the stimu'
liant in that way. Later in the even
ing. however, her mother came to
me and asked me if wouldn't go and attend
her daughter, who had tainted and was lying
on a bed in one Of the chambers. went up
stairs and found one of the servants and
lady friend chafing the young girls hands and
bathing her head. Her face was flushed,
and at once recognized that she was oeastly
drunk. :.
"Her mother did not seem to realize the
condition of things, and didn't have it in
nv heart to tell her, so I said she must have
been overcome by the heat. We loosened
her clothes and let her lie there until the party
broke up. Then she was sufficiently re-
covered to be taken to her carriage and sent
home. That poor girl is dead now, but am
firmly convinced that if she had never drank
a glass Of wine she would be alive to-day.
Oh, could go on for an hour giving sad in
stances that have come under my observa-
tion, but it wouldn't do any good. AS have
said, l am glad that the sentiment OF society
is changing in regard to the use of wines at
large gatherings"