The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
THEY LIKE PUNCH
But Brandy Straight is Favorlte scandi.
nayian Triple.

.
But Brandy Straight is : Favorlte scandi-
navian Triple.
Punch is Is fayorite an article Of con-
sumption in this northern country AZ beer
in Germany or wine in France, says the
Chicago Journals Bergen letter. It is the
national drink. The Swedes take to punch
and punch takes to the Swedes, until some
times it is difficult to tell whether the com
bination is mostly Swede or mostly puncn.
In Norway more beer is drunk than in Swe-
to an enormous extent, and for the first
time smell again that nasty whisky
BREATH SO familiar in America and see
drunken men in the streets. In my whole
journey hitherto think have not seen 10
drunken men, no more than can be seen
tricts in Chicago on election day, and in
the southern countries where wine and beer
are freely used there is certainly very little
drunkenness. The temperance question
ia quite different matter in Eu-
rope from what it is at home, and pro-
a very. very lonely time, unless he got
mobbed, which would more likely be the
case. In Paris, owing to the increasing
scarcity and high price each year of good
wine, such poisonous drinks as absinthe,
vermouth and the like are more and more
regulate the sale of these liquors, and in
the north and east parts of Germany the
use of alcoholic drinks has increased 90 of
late years that drunkenness is far more COM
mon than formerly. There was long ed
itorial in one of the papers in Schlesien seri-
Ously proposing to form an organization to
secure laws against the sale Of brandy, and
to regulate the beer shops whore the work
ing men squander their money in unlimited
guzzling of beer to the neglect of their fam
lilies. Think of temperance society in
Germany! It is noticeable fact that COM
ing north from the land of wine, Just in pro-
portion as wine becomes scarce and dear
these heavier and more intoxicating drinks
take its place. It must be that colder
climate creates demand for them, az their
use seems to correspond closely with lines
of latitude. In Russia whole villages get
drunk at once; in Scandinavia it is consid-
cred perfectly proper on feast days, and not
very improper at other times; Great Britain
leads all civilized countries in the number
of drunkards to the population, and the
United States is not far behind. Il is too
much to one .nd nation to have al
lovely traits of our scandinavian brethren
it must be confessed that many Of them will |
get drunk. Years ago the consumption Of
brandy, according to official figures.
reached the almost incredible amount Of |
seven gallons I person ea per year. bit now it
one gallon per head per year. Allowing for |
women. children and non-drinkers, this |
still leaves very liberal allowance Of fire. |
water per year for those who do the drink |
ing. The provisions of the Gothenbere |
licensing system are probably we'll known |
countries and has greatly reduced drinking. |
Liquor is not allowed to be sold except |
where food is also supplied, as hotel or res
taurant, and in most cities, where the abuse |
of liquor is always harder to regulate, the |
which Is bound to pay all the profits above
fixed per cent to the city, and whose business
is under the watch of a comptroller. This
company decides how many places shall be
used for the sale of brandy, and puts an
agent at each one, who has charge of the
sales and pays the owner of the establish
ment fixed sum per year for the use of his
premises and the patronage connected with
them.