New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-28

cases of delirium tremens The consumption Of
drink has therefore decreased from about twenty.
nine litres To about sixteen ltreS pr capita, ana
the general improvement of the condition OF the
people in the direction of temperance may ne put
AZ 20 per cent that is, 20 per cent Oh the evils vi
drunkenness have been abated. In STOCKHOLM, also,
interesting results are to be observed In TINS nu-
nicipality there were, on September -, 1877, no
less than l03 grog shops. or one TO evuy 100 In
ha btants; but on October l. 1877, there were only
81. or one to every 1898. The new company had
than half the drinking places in the CITY For
the places that remained open the company was
careful to select the most open, ceanly andorderly
shutting up all the " dives" These improved con-
ditions have, in the opinion OF the chief OF police
greatly contributed to the decrease OF drunkenness
which has taken place in Stockholm. lie considers
in the light, wellordered and respectfully fire.
quented premises of the company, and are ashamed
TO conduct themselves otherwise than properly IN
the midst of such surroundings They could, Of
course drink in their own houses, and II was ~
one time thought that this would be danger at
tendant the GOthenburg system, but in prao.
rice these fears do not seem to have been Jusuhed.
In addition TO the restraining influence eXerted n
the case of married men by the presence OF their
families, must he added the fact that the mo-
nopoly enjoyed by the company has had me enect
Of raising the average price OF brandy from 81
cents 20 20 cents per litre. For brandy Consumed
the premises the price now charged IS ~ cen's
per litre, as against 80 cents at when 10 5000
previously to 1877. II is generally considered
that the early hours of closing enJolned by the
statutes of the Stockholm company have had much
TO do with the dmnution Of drunkenness. When
the new system was first introduced the public
houses were closed every night AT 10 o'clock. and
on SUNDAYS and holidays they were shut for seven
and half hours during the day But IN 1888.
in compliance with petition signed by some
10 900 men Of the working classes, reform Was
introduced. On January 30 Of that year an order
was issued that in future no liquor should be
served on Sundays or holidays unless 1000 were
taken at the same time, and that on saturday
evenings after the worlSmen had received theIr
weeks wages the pubc-houses should be closed
at D. m The same early hour Of closing was
observed on the days preceding holidays Inc
statistics showing the decrease in the quantity OF
spirits consumed in Stockholm and in the number
OF persons fined for drunkenness prOportionatey
10 the number of inhabitants are almost repetl'
ton Of those already given for Gothenburg, ue
rate of Improvement having been nearly the same
in the two instances.
Mr. Smith, the former Brandy King. never re,
Tented in his hostility 10 the entire system, ana
many others have agtated for its repeal, among
them being both ultra-temperance retormers ana
the worst class Of grog-shOp keepers. The system,
indeed is regarded much as high license is IN
America, assaIed by the Prollhitonlsts and Ny
the dive Keepers alike but sustained and approved
by the great mass of intelligent and law-abldln3
people. so that its perpetuity now seems well
assured.