The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-14
DRINKING ON THE CONTINENT.
Facts Cleaned from Observations in For
eign Countries.

Facts Cleaned from Observations in For
eign Countries.
The advocates of moderate drinking
have always said that there was less
drunkenness in the countries where
wine and beer were freely used than
there was in the United States and in
Great Britain, where the people use
stronger drinks. This is doubtless true
to-day, as it has always been. Amer
leans who have visited continental
countries are imbued with this idea.
They come home saying that they saw
no drunkenness in either France or
Germany. 1t is very common for peo-
pie to say that they have spent weeks
in Paris and nave never seen drunken
man. This, however, only shows Il lack
of observation on their part. In the
business parts of New York or in the
better portions of the city a drunken
man is rarely met with. Ten or fiji,
teen years ago in Paris it was very
unusual thing to see drunken man,
but now an obscrvant person, familiar
with Paris, will see them in more or
less numbers any day in any part Of
the city | have no doubt that in the
poorer sections of the city drunkenness
may be met with at all hours OF the
day. have just returned from Paris,
having spent nearly year there, and
am quite as ia niliar with that city as
/ am with New York. A dozen years
ago in Paris it was said that whisky,
brandy and other strong drinks
Mt tho foe on lIr fpt. fnrni
ers, who were accustomed to use them
at home, and that the French people
drank only light wines. If that was
the case then, l question if it was, it is
certainly not the case now. French
people are drinking large quantities Of
brandy, chartrcuse, afsinthe and
cheaper drinks, which are very intoxi-
eating. 1t is not only common to see
drunken men in Paris, but one some
times sees drunken women on the
streets and drinking strong drinks in
cafes. 1t is frequent complaint that
it is diff ult to secure sober cabman.
There are fifteen thousand cabmen in
Paris, and one has but to look at them,
to see that large majority are hard
drinkers; more particularly is this the
case with the middle-aged and elderly
men. In Il French family, with which
am quite familiar, the cook was dis
charged on account of drunkenness,
and this after patiently submitting to
her Sprees for nearly two years. The
chambermaid, an intelligent young
French woman, was discharged for
stealing wine and getting drunk. The
L. L Al L., ,1.
discharged for drunkenness. This is
the recent experience of but single
family 4 French gentleman, with
whom | am well acquainted, occupying
good position in society, | have seen
a number of times under the influence
of drink, and two French gentlemen
of my acquaintance at wedding re-
Gently became drunk to the disgust of
their families who were present. 1t is a
fact that almost anyone conversant with
French life will acknowledge that
drunkenness is very largely on the in
crease among the common people, and
from my knowledge of French life
am also sure that it is growing among
all classes. Brandy, chartreuse and
absinthe are served in good families
after almost every dinner and at al
most every evening entertainment. 1t
is supposed to be taken in small guam
titles, but very often it is taken in
quantities large enough to produce in
toxication. The same state of things
exists in Germany. | have been as
surcd by German gentlemen of the
highest position who are not by any
means total abstainers, that drunken
ness is increasing to an alarming eX-
tent, more particularly among the
working people, and quite often stu
dents seriously discuss the temperance
question over quart pot of beer. The
arguments of the advocates of wine
and beer are being swept away, and
while it. is still true that there is very
mucn more drunkenness in America
and Great Britain than there is in con-
tinental countries, yet how long that
may be the case, one can hardly tell.
The day is not far distant when the
subject of temperance, which is now
ridiculed in both France and Germany,
will come to the front; the attention of
thoughtful men in both countries is
already being drawn to 1T. K. Cree,
in Young Mems Era.