The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
TEMPERANCE PROGRESS.

TEMPERANCE PROGRESS.
Hon. Neal Dow. one Of O recent symposium
IA the New York Independent. in answer to
the question, "Is tho World Growing Bet
terT' replying from the Temperance stand
point. writes,
"My knowledge OF the drinking habits OF
the people goes back beyond fifty years.
yery we'll remember when this habit was al
most universal among all classes OF society.
It may be said to have been quito universal
among mechanics and other workingmen.
remember when the town bell, which rang
of seven in the morning, at noon and at nine
o'clock ut night. was also rung at eleven IN
the forenoon and at four in the afternoon to
call workingmen to their "grog," when
there were fftean minutes allowed them to
absorb their allowance OF rum, which was
then spoken ofas support" and was held,
even among the Intelligent and educated, to
be Il necessity to working people, women as
we'll as men, to enable them to endure the
draft upon their physical strength.
"At the same time the drink custom was
universal among the upper classes OF 30
ciety. Always when calling at the houses OF
such people, whether socially. ceremont-
ously, or on business, the first thing afterthe
greeting was an invitation to the sideboarr:
to 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
silver label about its neck to indicate the
I kind Of fuddle it contained. Whether the In
tsrview continued for ten minutes or more,
the same ceremony was peated-the forEaaj
invitation and the drink. Whether the
caller were the pastor, the doctor, the
stranger, or the neighbor. the invitation and
the drink were never omitted. 1t wasthought
rude in those days. sometimes Offensive, to
decline that sort OF hospitality. These civil
tiles were extended alike to ladies as to gen-
tlslneh. =,
':In those days OF liquors at public as well
as at social gatherings and at public as well
as social feastings, alcoholics were always
present, with boisterousness, coarseness,
oven vulgarities (the ladies having retired)
and even excess to the extreme was not
considered q reproach to any gentleman.
have seen such persons leap upon the
table at such feasts, and dance Zig" there,
making all the bottles, decanters, and
glasses Join in the fdu. I have seen six
gentlemen doing this at one time, at long
table-a few ladies apd many gentlemen
being present. All these habits and customs
are gone now; they were dismissed many
years ago from all circles Of which have
any knowledge.
"In Maine, which know better than any
other State, the change among the entire
population is wonderful, not only as to
drinking habits, but in every other direc-
ton. The liquor traffic here is under the
ban O! the law and has beep so for more than
forty-two years, supported by an overwhelm.
ing public opinion, the people having put
prohibition into the Constitution in 1884, by
u popular vote Of 47,075 majority, the at-
firlnative being three times larger than the
negative The liquor traffic here is regarded
as infamous in the same category AZ gam
bling hells and houses Of ill-tame. In large
sections Of the State, being more than three
fourths of its area with more thGn three
fourths Of its population, the iquo- traffc
is practically unknown; IN entire genera
ton has grown up there never having seen
a saloon nor the effects OF one"
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
The new German Reichstag contains seven
brewers.
There were last year 160, 900 convictions
for drunkenness in England and Wales.
The dsti.leries o. the United States con-
sumed 26, ,489. .671 bushels Of grain the last
fiscal year.
Offity-slx cases in the Newcastle (England).
Police Court recently fifty were cases ol
drunkenness.
The Glasgow University Total Abstinence
Society carries on work both In and out OF
the University.
Among the many failures" reported
throughout the country not one saloon or
brewery is found in the list.
The Swiss Catholic bishops have published
q collective letter in favor ol total abstn-
ence. pointing out the terrible consequences
Of intemperance.
The Census Bureau figures show that in
257 American cities there are 15,3lG.l67 peo-
pie, and 61 ,336 saloons; an average OF one
saloon for every sixty families.
1t is the testimony of the police OF Worees-
ter, Muss., that the coffee Wagons have been
useful and effective as temperance agencies.
Many persons resort to them who would
otherwise patronize the saloons,
The Scottish Christian Temperance Union
has sent O letter to 1000 ministers IN Scotland
arging them not 10 give moral sanction and
support to a "trads," the results OF which
are antagontstic to the real work OF the
Church, by allowing fermented wine to be
used OF the communion. x..-...-.,. 49,