The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-08

LONDON, Oct. IA sharp and probably
salutary shock has been given to high
social circles by the startling exposure in
regard to the prevalence of drunkenness
among arstocratic ladies by Lady Fred
srick Cavendish and the duchess of Bed
ford at the church congress. Hitherto
the allegations of widespread drinkin z
practices among women ef rank and fash
ion have been deemed prejudiced gossip,
but nothing that rumor mas suggested
equals the outspoken revelations made by
these highly placed leaders of society.
Lady Cavendish said that women were
becoming inyeterate tippiers; that many
ladies have recourse TO "pick- me-ups"
and an IL O'Clock brandy and Soda dur
ing the day. wine at dinner and something
hot at bedtime She said she knew young
lady who could net get through the exac-
tioDs Of London season without taking
cordial" pretty name for dram kept
handy, at tea and that after a certain
morning concart lady beside her called
for white cup" 4 deceptive name for a
champagne cup. Lady Cayendish pro-
tested especially against the new fashion
of young ladies, and old ones, too, ac-
companying the gentlemen to the smoking
the cigars but also the spirits. She said
that a disting uished physician had assured
her that many ladies had consulted him
for nervous symptoms, which revealed u
perfect unconsciousness on their part of q
condition of alcoholism bordering on de-
lir;um tremens; but that alcohol was not
the only fashionable falling, as chloral and
morphia were taken in secrecy in bOudoirs,
and were adding to the maladies of mod
ern life.
The duchess of Bedford, taking up the
subject. put the blame tor these evils on
the straining of the nerve power, through
the supposed exigent demands of society.
until the nerves required a flip. The
argument OF the necessity OF stimulation,
she said, afforded but the slightest pro-
lection against temptation. The real
remedy was avoidance Of mischievous
forms of excitement, together with total
abstinence. The duchess maintained that
moderation" was a very elastic term,
and would not meet the evils like alb
stinence 1t was serious thing, she said,
for Christian workers, pledged to fight
the drinking practices of society, to reject
the practice of abstinence, and she be-
sought everybody interested to avoid the
banter and jesJing too commonly used in
reference to the greatest evil OF modern
life
The wives of Archbishop Benson, Sir
William Herschel, the Dean of Rochester,
and others, continued in a similar strain.
The topic Is deeply stirring the social elite.
The sensational reports current OF the
prevalence of a severe depression in the
commercial and agricultural interests of
Great Britain caused the Associated Press
representative to make special inquiries
at the labor bureau and in other quarters.
The officials of the labor bureau stated
that, while the prevailing depression is
considerable, it Is not unprecedented.
Taking the returns oe the " hole number
of trades unions reported during Septem-
Der. but five per cent. Of the total number
of worSmen are shown to he out Of en-
ployment. The reports embrace 30, 600
union workmen. The shipbuildng trade is
the worst affected. Next comes the cotton,
iron and steel industries. No signs of i'm
provement in the snip-buil0ing trade are
likely to be seen in the near future. IL
seems probable that not less than from 20
TO % per cent. of the workmen will soon
be idle. As is usual during recurrent
periods of depression, the building traders
are the last to suffer. The masons aud
carpenters will be fully employed during
the winter, and their prospects are good, |
at an increased rate, for overtime Among
the Welsh tin plate makers 10, 900 men are
idle. Several of the largest works in
Swansea partially stopped operations OH
Monday last, and a number OF Others have |
gwen the men notice of suspension.
Regarding agriculture the position of !
farm iaborers IN the midland counties will !
illustrate the situation in all counties. !
The farmers there have reduced wages. |
The men are now getting u shillings |
weekly instead of Is shillings Many far
mers nave paid off their laborers for the |
winter The low prices of wheat are re-
ducinG the cultivatorS to beggary. Ths !
agricultural depression is likely to create |
public clamor, AS the various Interests !
landlords, farmers and laborers-each |
have power TO sound the political trumpet. |
The farmers project a national agricuI- |
tural conference, at which reduced rents, !
and the creation of land court Tor fixing /
rents, will be advocated.