The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-08
Scandalous Prevalence of the Drink
Habit Among English Aris-
tocratic Women.
Brought on by the Very Severe
Demands Made Upon Them
by Society.
Severe Depression in All the Agricultural
Districts--The Trades FsirIy Active
n Most Lines.

Copyright. 1892. New York Associated Press.
LONDON. Oct. IA sharp and probably
salutary shock has been given high social
circles by the startling exposure in regard
to the prevalence of drunkenness among
aristocratio ladies, made by Lady Frederick
Cavendish and the duchess of Bedford at
the church congress. Lady Frederick Cav
endish said she had been recently staying
at country mansion where roomy dining
chairs are still used. she seats of which were
deeply curved to save gentlemen from fall
ing out after dinner; that although heavy
| drinking had been abandoned by the men
the women were becoming inveterate tip
piers. Many ladies have recourse to ''pick-
| me ups" and II a. nj. brandy and soda dur
ing the day, wine at dinner and something
hot at bedtime. She knew young lady
who could not get through the London
season without taking cordial" kept
handy, at tea. and after certain
morning concert lady beside had called
for a white cup" deceptive name for
champagne cup. Lady Cavendish pro-
tested 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 said dis
tinquished physician had assured her that
many ladies living idle lives consulted him
for nervous symptoms which revealed
condition of alcoholism bordering ON de-
lrum tremens. But alcohol is not the
only fashionable failing, as choral, chlora-
dyne. and morphia are taken in secrecy in
boudoirs and were adding to the maladies
of modern life.
Tho duchess of Bedford, taking up the
theme, put the blame for these evils on the
straining of the nerve power through sup
posed exigent demands of society until
! the nerves required FLIP. The arRu-
ment Of the necessity of stimulation, she
said, afforded but the very slightest protec-
tion against temptation. The real rem
edies were the avoidance OF mischievous
) abstinence. The duchess maintained that
J moderation was very elastic term and
I would not meet the evils like abstinence.
( 1t was serious thing. she said, for Christ
( ian workers. pledged to fight the drinking
) practices of society, to reject the pract ce
Z interested to avoid the banter and jesting
( too commonly used IN reference to the
greatest evil of modern life.
) The wife of Archbishop Benson, Sir
VIM. He schel, the dean of Rochester and
( others continued in in similar strain. The
topic is deeply stirring the social elite.
In the iron and steel trades in the north
} of England q fall of two shillings four
pence per ton in the price of bars and plates,
I and the growing scarcity of orders COM
Scotch steel makers propose to restrict pro-
I dHetion. Scotch mineral oil companies
have given their wo kmen notice of q re
duction of 10 per cent. In the cotton trade
J the federation of master spinners decided
on five per cent reduction Nov. l. The
short time, and challenge the masters to a
) strike which will involve fifteen millions OF
splndles.
Regarding agriculture. the position of
( farm laborers in the midland counties will
( illustrate the situation in all the counties.
) The farmers there have reduced wages six
, pence per day. The men are now getting
I twelve shilllnRs weekly. Many farmers
I have paid off their laborers for the winter.
{ The low prices of wheat are reducing the
) cultivators to beggary, and the agricultural
} depression is likely to create great public
I clamor, as the various interests of land
( lords. farmers and labors each have power
{ to sound the political trump. The farmers
) are projecting national agricultural con-
} ference, at which reduced rents and the
I creation of a land court for fixing rents
will be advocated.
London will soon have new evening
) paper. the property of syndicate. OF
} which L. p. OConnor and Justin McCar.
I thv are members. OConnor will be- editor
( and MCCARTHY leader writer.
s Morley's eviction commission will have 4
! balanced representation of landlords and
} tenants, two delegates from each inte est
I with four Irish lawyers. headed by judge
{ Home secretary Asquith il visiting Dublin
{ in order to discuss with Morely the govern
) ments policy in reference to political pris
oners. The government is reluctant tC
| treat the dynamiters in prison as politica
+? prisoners. Asquith wants to detain them
} while Morley wants to release them. MIR
} Schuadhorst recently offered the resigni
I tion of the liberal executive, uging tha
{ his increasing deafness makes Ii difticul
5 ment as desirable. The leaders decline Il
! accept the resignation, but will relieve hin
of portion Of his functions.
i Sensational report Is cur tent of prevalence
! of severe deuression in commeroial ant
) agricultural interests of q eat Britain
! caused an Associated press representative
to make special inquiries, The officials o
a labor bureau stated that while the pre-
{ yailnp depression is considerable 1t is no
} unprecedented. Taking the returns of the
whole trades unions reporting during sep
tember five per cent of the number of work
men ia shown to be out Of employment
) The report embraces 1,250, 900 union work
men The ship building ade is the wors
} affected Next come the cotton, iror
= and steel industries. No sign o
improvement in the ship building trad
are likely to be seen in the near future. /
seems probable that not less than 20 to 2
per cent of these workmen will soon b.
idle. On the Clyde the wages of engineer
and iron founders and oil shipbuiiders will
be reduced 10 per cent Monday. while il
Belfast and on the TYNE and Wear th
shipbuilde,s will be- subjected to simila
reductions Nov. 20. Among the Welsh Til
plate makers 5000 men are idle and worl
generally proceed on day contracts only.
Italy short of silver.
ROME, Oct. 7.-Iha inoonvenences re
aultinu from tha disannaaranna from cir