The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-12-21
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Hon Neal Dow one Of q recent symposium
In the New York independent. in answer -
the question. ala the World Growing Bet
ter?' replying from the temperance stand
point. writes
"My knowledge OF tho drinking habits Of
the people goes back beyond nfty years.
very we'll remember when this habit was al
most universal among all classes Of society.
IL may lie said to have leen quite universal
among mechanics and other workincmsn.
remember when the town bell, which rang.
at seven In the morning. at noon and at nine
o'clock at night was also rung at eleven in
the forenoon and AZ four In the afternoon To
call workingmcn 90 their "grog,' when
there wcrc fftecu minutes allowed them 10
absorb their allowance Of rum, which was
then spoken otasa support and was held,
even among the intelligent and educated, 10
be necessity 20 working people, women as
well as men. 20 enable them TO endure the
draft upon their physical strength.
AT the same time tho drink custom was
universal among the upper classes OF sol
cicty Always when calling at the houses Of
such people, whether socially. ceremoni-
ously or on business, the first thing after ths
TrceIs.y.s aIs do !ig,is0tinu ~ the sideboRrd
ito take something which meant drink OF
wine. brandy, gin, Or any other Of the many
kinds OF alcoholics there displayed in long
array Of cut glass decanters, each having q
silver label about its neck 10 indicate the
kind OF fuddle Il contained Whether the In
,srvicw continued for ten Llnutes or more,
the same ceremony was repsSte' the formal
invitation aud the drink. Whsthsr the
caller were the pastor, the doctor, tho
stranger, or the neighbor the invitation and
tho drink were never omitted. Il was thought
rude in those days. sometimes offensive, 10
decline that sort Of hospitality. These civil.
tiles were extrnIcd alike 10 ladies' rs to gen.
.lemen.
I'm those days Of liquors at public as well
"a at social gatherings and at public as well
"a social ledStincs, alcoholics we're alwaye
present, with bOistcrOusness, coarsensss
even vulgaritics Cthe ladies' having retired)
and even excess 70 tho extreme was not
considered u reproach 10 any gentleman.
| have seen such persons leap upon the
table Al such leasts, ani dance a "iis" there,
making all the bottles, decsnters, and
glasses Join H. tho fun. ! have seen six
gentlemen doing this at one time, at long
table-a few ladies aud many gentlemen
being present. All these habits and customs
are gore now they were dismissed many
years ago from all circles Of which | hava
any knowledge.
In Maine, which know better than any
other State, the change among the entire
population IL wonderful. not only as 20
drinking habits, but In every other direc.
licH. The liquor traflr here Is under the
Ian of the law and has been so for more than
ior;y-two years, supported hy an ovcrwhelm.
ing public opinion, the people having put
l:ohibition into the Constitution in 1884, Ly
a popular vote Of 1903 majority. the al.
hrmatye being three tines larger than IN,
negative. The liquor traGlc here il regarded
as Infamous In the same category rs gam
bling hels aud houses of ill-iame. In large
sections OF tho State. being more than three.
fourths OF its Hrea with more than three.
'odrths OF its population the liquor tranit
is practically unknown; an entire genera.
ton has grown up there never having seen
u saloon nor the elects Of one