Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-11-28
'RsrINENCE In SOCIETY

Young lady, with large circle Of
..;ands. accustomed to what ia called
l laood society,"" herself member of a
snopular church. and q pledged abstain-
d p said to US recently. in conversation
u, zion social drinking: "In all nv circle of
lung gentlemen friends, know of bnt
!hree only who are total abstainers. y
m n others, while they would abhor the
rilraritv of drunkenness, do not hest
,ate to take wine in society. At recent
S '@ select and elegant entertainment
.t which this young lady, gifted with a
musical voice of rare quality, was an
IGNORED guest, and at which, with other
socety people, were many of her fellow
church members, wines were served with
the refreshments. and herself and two
others were the only abstainers.
Not long ago five young gentlemen.
amateurs with good voices, were invited
nv lady, distinguished as society
woman, to one of her brilliant, popular
entertainments. They sang for their
hostess and her other guests, and were
nrotIercd, with the refreshments, several
kinds of wine and champagne. Ono of
the young gentlmen is a pledged alb
stainer, the others do not ordinarily take
wine. but on this occasion, strongly
urged by their hostess, took it. The
one. pleading his pledge taken in bow
hood. was finally excused and took no
wine. w. f.rr bef.
These incidents are but types of MANY
of kindred import in connection with
social life to-day. They reveal an ur-
gent need, in the way of temperance
education, in a section of society, which
is most inadequately met. The young
men. and the young women, of many
wealthy families, of fashionable tenden-
cies are almost wholly without temper
ance instruction. Many pleas are made
for the neglected poor, but there are
also the neglected rich. For the ordin-
ary temperance agencies they have a
feeling of Indifference or contempt.
They must, however, be reached in some
way, if social drinking is ever to be gem
orally discredited, and the drink traffic
is ever to be effectively suppressed.
In the sphere of society drinking. such
as we have referred to. members of
Christian churches have a large measure
of responsibility. Wealthy church mem
bcrs, especially in cities, do much to give
tone to society. If they furnish. and
partake of, wines at their society enter
tainments, of course wine drinking will
dominate with. those who are more
worldly in their tastes and habits. Pas
tors, too, are involved in this RESPONSE
bility. Many there are, the vast ma
jority outside of cities, who are on all
occasions exemplary, conscientious total
abstainers. But it is also ,lameHtably
true that there are yet many, in cities,
X,,},n do o0$ tot To TT. l>,s,.
wealthy parishioners and others in
taking wine, @in moderation of course, :"
on social and festive occasions.
In recent years public attention, in
connection with the temperance reform,
has been largely turned in the direction
of temperance legislation and temper
ance politics. While this has been going
on, and we do not by any means deem it
unnecessary or unimportant, the young
people have been growing up almost
wholly without temperance teaching of
any kind, without the pledge, and as a
consequence are now perpetuating in
their turn the social drinking habits of
their elders. In England much effective
temperance educational work has been
and is being done, in especially influen-
,ial social circles, through the medium Of
nou tine urawlng-ruSms, especially VI
well-to-do Christian people on this side
of the Atlantic, be made to render a
kindred useful service for the promotion
OF abstinence in society here? And in
this needy sphere wel.-chosen temper
ance literature may be made most help
full. The printed page may often pene-
trate and arrest thoughtful, sympathetic
attention where the living voice would
be deemed obtrusive and unwelcome.
Whisky and beer will hold their sway in
the slums, while wine continues it's reign
in the parlor and palatial dining-hall.
Abstinence alone will regenerate both
National Temperance Advocate.