Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-01
WOMEN AND WINE.
Told of the Appetite for Liquor
Developed I'm Matrons and Maidens.

Developed i'm Matrons and Maidens.
1.-The story published in The STAR a few
days ago, said a retired naval officer to a STAR
reporter, 'brings to my mind several sad cases
that have come to nv knowledge where the
wives Of officers of both branches Of the ser
vice 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. Of course,
other causes for death were given out, such
pneumonia. heart disease, rheumatism, &C.,
but those who were acquainted with all the cir
eumstances knew that the women died from
whisky. Why / 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 a perfume"
why should officers wives acquire this
habit any more than other ladies in society"
asked The STAR man.
1.-The cases are not confined to army and
naval circles, by good deal" was the reply;
but happen to know more about that class.
REMEMBER SAD CASE
that happened in this city some years ago. The
wife Of army officer and a lady friend went
down to the marine barracks one Monday
morning to witness the guard mount. After
this was over they were entertained by a cham
payne lunch, at which the officers wife drank
more than was good for her. She did not
realize IL at the time. nor until she
got ready to go home. Then she found that
though her head was comparatively clear she
was really very drunk in her legs. She could
not walk straight. She called one of the Off
GERS to her and plainly told him her condition.
relying, of course, upon his honor a gentle
man not to betray her confidence. He called
carriage and took the lady and her friend
T1otrx oil rirrhf Int 81,
about a week afterward the young officer him
self 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 personal friend of her husband
He imme diately administered a rebuke TO the
intoxicated 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
il the husband ever found out that the young
man had told the story there would have been
personal encounter.
ANOTHER INSTANCE.
Two years ago 1 had a singular experience
myself. 1 going along F street and
stepped into a large vestibule to light a cigar,
as the wind was quite high As / struck a
match was surprised to find a woman sitting
on the lower step. She was richly attired,
wearing sealskin sacque. silk dress, and
everything about her betokened wealth and
refinement. / went to her and found that she
was badly intoxicated just then the watch
man 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 COM
paratively sober. Then she took out her card
case to give me her address, and was sur
prised still more to find that she was the wife
of an officer whom / had known very we'll |
called a 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 in the West End about midnight. She
told me that she feared at first going to
take her TO the police station. and that the idea
of being disgraced in that way had good deal
to do with bringing her TO her senses"
THE HABIT NOT on THE INCREASE.
do you think the habit is ON the increase?r
No, do not. On the contrary don't think
there are SO many women who drink wine
habitually now there were ten years ago.
and think the number is lessening every year
Wine and liquor are not 50 extensively used in
society as they were some years ago. and the
number of houses AT which wine and even
stronger liquors can be had by guests ad libitum
il now very small. You notice that every New
Year the majority of people who keec open
house now provide coffee and chocolate for
their callers instead of wine and punch as was
formerly the custom. This is a very encourage
ing sign. for it keeps temptation away from
young men and young women. All. / have
known young girls who acquired the appetite
for strong drink from accepting the Inequalities
lneH anu some OF tlieIn from the free
use OF wine at their own fathers table. re-
member being at a reception several years ago
at which there was the greatest prOfusion of
wine. while bowls of good stiff punch were in
every ante-rOOm. One young girl | noticed
lowered about the punch bowls and drank a
good deal. ! saw her dancing afterward and
came to the conclusion that she would work off
any effect OF the stimulgnt in that way. Later
In the evening, however. her mother came to
me and asked me if l wouldn't go and attend
her daughter. who had tainted and was living
on a bed III one of the chambers | went up-
stairs and found one of the servants and lady
friend chatting the young girls hands and bath
ing her head. Her face was flushed and at
once recognized that
SHE WAS BEAsTLY DRUNK.
Her mother did not seem to realize the con-
dition of things and didn't have it in nv
heart to tell her. so said she must have been
overcome by the heat. We Ioosened her clothes
and let her lie there until The party broke up
Then she was sufficiently recovered TO be taken
10 her carriage and sent home. That poor girl
IS dead now. but am firmly convinced that if
she had never drank glass of wine she would
be alive to-day. Oh could go on for an hour
giving sad instances that have come under nv
observation, but 1t wouldn't do any good. As
have said am glad that the sentiment of
society IS changing in regard to the use of
wines at large gatherings. I'm not a temper
ance crank. / drink myself. and probably
shall do SO all my life; but don't like 70 see
Young men and young women exposed to a
temptation which may fasten upon them an
appetite that will wreck their whole lives. Ii
Is natural that such instances as have related
should be hidden and kept from the knowledge
OF all except those intimately connected with
the unfortunate sufferers: but think if oeca-
sionally they found their way into print they
might serve warnings to these who are ex-
posed to temptation"