The New South., 1893-06-17

The Pathetic story Of Young WomRn's
Fs1 Through Drink.
some ten years ago. while visiting in
q distant city, had several opportuni-
ties Of seeing the workings of state
inebriate asylum, where several hum
dred women were serving terms of i'm
prisonInent. according 10 sentences
that had been passed upon them
The friend who introduced me con-
Quoted me to q handsome building.
with well-xept ground. We were
ushcred into a pretty little library,
from whose open door we could see
across the hall. spacious and cheerful
Office Upstairs WAS large and ele-
giant parior, dining-room and other
apartments for the use Of the officers,
all giving the impression Of comfort,
convenience and beauty.
But how changed was the scene when
we passed through the great door, which
our conductor locked behind us. Every
thing was clean and neat, but cold.
cheerless. prison-liise. The brick walls
were whitewashed and void Of orna-
mentation. the staireases of iron. the
windows heavily barred. We passed
through the different departments
/ the dining-rooin, with its long tables:
I tile kitchen, with It's ranges and great
vessels, constantly filed with tea and
coffee. to qucnch the unnatural thirst
Of these poor creatures; the sewing
room, Where they were taught to sew
and knit; the laundry and chapel. Ev-
/ erywhere were women in gowns of
I sssftI far
bloated and brutalized, some youthful,
with wild, fierce beauty in them, al
most all bearing cruel traces Of their
past lives. Among them was one sweet,
fair, refined face, and it is her story
that tell you.
A few years before, in an English
home, one Of its young daughters was
educated as an artist In course OF
time she went to the south of France,
and while there a great sorrow came
upon her. Accustomed to the use Of
wine from her childhood, why should
she fear the light wines of sunny
| France? How could she dream, as she
sought relief from her depression. that
She was fastening upon herself the
chains OF terrible appetite? Yet SO it
was Her friends, too late, awoke to
her danger, took her home and after
months of loving care hoped she was
cured. To enable her to begin life
afresh, under new conditions, remote
| from all who knew her weakness, a
position was obtained for her in a coll
1 lege on this side of the Atlantic. She
was successful and happy in her work,
but as she became known and began to
move in society, she entered homes
where her entertainers served wine at
their tables. and the fatal appetite re-
asserted itself At last she fell so pub
| licly that She was arraigned in police
court and sentenced to a term in the
institution of which ! have spoken.
At the expiration Of her time,
brother, who had journeyed from Eng
land for the purpose, wss there 10 re-
ceive and help her; but the saloon beck
oned on every side, polluting the air
with its odors, and in three days she
was lying dead drunk on the streets of
| the city, and was sentenced to second
six months imprisonment.
| Her term OF confinement was now
nearing its end, and the matron felt
much anxiety for her future. She
showed me beautiful fancy work,
! wrought by her fingers, spoke Of her
/ fine literary tastes and musical ability,
! Of the sweet disposition that had en-
deared her to them all, and then added:
.My poor Mabel; if ! only had some
place To send her where she would not
be constantly exposed to temptation
Alasl that such places should be so
rare But ever since, when | hear peo-
pie advocate the use of light wines as
the solution of the drink problem, /
think Of this young woman, twenty-five
years of age only, who, despite educa-
tion and social position, had been
brought low.--Union Signal