The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-06-25
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A DISASTROUS HABIT.
How the Evil. Of Drinking Are 1ntensl.

Prof. Simon N. Patten, of the Whar-
ton school of the university of Penn
sylvania, handled in novel fashion
well-worn topic in paper before the
American academy Of political and So
cial science the other night. The gist
of the professors argument was that,
whatever may be the morals of intern
pcrance, the conditions of life in this
country nave grown to be such that
drinking habits are particularly disas-
trous, and that the prohibition move
ment represents the efforts Of race to
accommodate itself to its environment.
And first the speaker argued that
mans appetite has been reduced
through the consumption of many in
stead of a few dishes. IF person
lives upon rice or potatoes alone he
must have much larger quantity of
food than if several articles are part
of his daily diet Every increase in the
variety of food reduces the appetite of
the consumer. This evident fact lies
at the base of the change in our drink
ing habits. A century ago some one
drink satisfied the wants of each ma
tion. 1t was in every house and used
as freely as tea and coffee now are.
But when the love of given drink is
reduced there are two ways in which
to get a recompense. Either by an in
crease in the variety of drinks or
through the use of stronger liquor.
But either leads to intoxlcation, since
whisky or mixed drinks are equally
unsettlins. In this way the reduction
in our appetites tends to intensity the
evils of drinking.
THE reduction of the appetite is not,
however, the only active economic
cause forcing the temperance issue
upon the American people. There are
many climatic and social conditions,
peculiar to America, which aggravate
the evils of alcoholism" And the
speaker here called attention to the
fact that rapid changes in the climate
lead one to drink in warm weather to
keep cool, and in cool weather to keep
warm. Germany has a much stcadier
climate, and there is, therefore, little
overwhelming; and Germany has not
either the treating habit. In America
leach SPELL of hot or of cold weather
sends an increasing host of customers
to every saloon in the land"
And further, Treating is SO univers-
al that person is looking upon as
mean who will drink without asking
his friends to drink with him. by the
time group of half dozen friends
have each treated, as many different
kinds of liquor are mixed together in
their stomachs.''
Prof. Patten then went on to say
that conditions are so different in this
country that emigrants do not under
stand the prohibition movement.
Even now, however, the reaction
against drinking can be plainly seen
among the second generation of the
German and Irish." The fact was
added that distillation is thing OF
modern times, so that strong drinks
are more easily made than ever before.
In gathering up the threads of his ar
gument, Prof. Patten urged that eli
matte and social conditions force prohi-
bition upon the American people, aud
that that part of the people which is tenn
perate must be the party to survive and
grow powerful. He added the further
fact that five temperance people can
be supported on the land needed to sat
isfy the coarse tastes of one"-owing to
the consumption of corn, rye or what
ever it may be-and for that reason the
economic advantage of abstainers is
great.
''If our appetites are diminishing, if
our climate makes moderate drinking
especially difficult, if not impossible,
and if the crops from which our liquors
are made waste the productive powers
of the land, we have the best reasons
for believing that the present dissatis-
faction with drinking will continue and
increase till every saloon and distillcry
is closed. "-Pittsburgh Labor Tribune.