The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-22
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
SOCIETY WOMEN AND DRINK.
Degenerate Habits of Some Of the Eng
lish Aristocrncv.


Degenerate Habits of Some OF the Eng
lish Aristocracy.
There are from time to time state
ments published, more or less indefi-
mite, concerning drinking and drunk
enness among women. The subject
has recently bsen brought prominent
x to public notice by the statements of
two distinguished English ladies, Lady
Frederick Cavcndish, and the duchess
of Bedford, made at a church congress
in England, wherein they read papers
on Temperance as it affects women of
Frederick Cavendish said that she had
been recently staying at a country
mansion where roomy dining-room
chairs were still used, the seats of
which were deeply curved to save gen.
tlemen from falling out after dinner;
that, although heavy drinking had
been abandoned by the men, the
women were becoming inveterate tip
piers; that many ladies have recourse
to 'pick-me-ups" and eleven a. m.
brandy and-soda during the day, wine
at dinner, and something hot at bed
time. She said she knew a young
woman who could not get through the
exertions of London season without
taking cordial" a pretty name for
dram kept handy at tea, and that
after certain morning concert lady
beside her had called for white
cup" deceptive name for cham
payne cup Lady Cavendish protested
especially against the new fashion of
young ladies' and old ones too, accom-
panying gentlemen to the smoking
room after dinner, and sharing not
only the cigars, but also the spirits.
She further said that distinguished
physician had assured her that many
ladies who were living idle lives had
consulted him for nervous symptoms
which revealed, in perfect unconscious
ness, very bad condition of alcohol
ism bordering on delirium tremens.
The duchess of Bedford continued
the theme. and put the blame for the
evil on the straining of nerve power
through the supposed exigent demands
of society until the nerves required a
flip. Argument Of the need, the neces-
sity of stimulation, she said, afforded
but the slightest protection against
temptation. The real remedy, she
claimed, was avoidance of mischievous
forms of excitement together with to-
tai abstinence. The duchess main
tanned that moderation" was a very
elastic term and did not meet the evils
IL IL
serious thing for Christian workers,
pledged as such, to fight the drinking
practices of society, to reject the prac-
tice of abstinence; and she besought
everybody to avoid the banter and
jesting too commonly used in reference
to the greatest evil of modern life.
The wives of Archbishop Benson, Sir
William Herschell, the dean of Roches-
ter and others continued the discussion
in similar strain. The consideration
of this special subject in a church con-
gress of women of eminent social po-
sition, has had the effect to deeply stir
the social elite of England.
There is no doubt that in New York
and other of the larger American cities,
consideration of the subject of drink
ing and drunkenness among women,
especially in the more fashionable and
wealthy social circles. One of the last
philanthropic efforts by the late Hon.
William E. Dodge, the longtime presi-
dent of the National Temperance soci-
ETY., was the founding of home
for the victims of inebriety among
women of the well-to-do social
classes. 1t was found difficult to main
tain this home because of the reluc-
lance of families to have it publicly
known that any of their members
were thus cared' for in such an insti-
tuition, and it was subsequently given
up. Among poor women given to the
practice of inebriety, the police inter-
vene and they are sent to our various
public institutions, prisons, hospitals,
etc, but among the rich these unhappy
victims of strong drink are in one way
and another secluded as much as pos
sible from the public view and treated
as well as may be in the privacy of the
home. Only the All-Seeing Eye can
discern the heart breaks and suffering
often found in such homes shielded by
brown-stone fronts There should be
many on this side Of the Atlantic to re,
echo the earnest and eloquent appeal
of the duchess Of Bedford for total alb
stinence, as against moderation, /" con-
corning the use OF intoxicants. In this
pathway alone is there safety, for
either men or women, from the alcohol
peril National Temperance Advocate