The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-10-10
SOCIETY RESPONSIBLE.

While all lovers Of decenc,
and morality agree that the saloon
is one of the evils Of the century
there is one fact which they mus
not lose sight Of, and that is; tina
the same society which most loud
ly condemns it is responsible, to /
greater extent then its member,
imagine, for its origin and exis
tence.
Few men, and especially young
men, owe their first debauch tc
the mere love Of drink; while nine
out Of ten of the habitual drunk,
ards who raise riot in oui
streets and fill our prisons and
almshouses, trace their gradual
downfall to some festive scene Of
innocent revelry, where wit and
gaiety filled the bowl and beauty
pledged the wassail cup. Fol-
this pernicious custom Of social
drinking the present generation is
not responsible, the practice hav-
ing so remote an origin as to be
lost in the mists Of forgotten ages.
We read that Jacob poured a
"drink-offering" upon the pillar
which he set up to mark the spot
where he had had his wonderful
vision. Whether there is in this
circumstance any remote connec-
tion or explanation Of the ladder
story is still a matter of conjec-
ture. 1t is a well-known fact,
however, having been proven by
repeated experiments, that wine
hath power to people the brain
with as wild fantasies. Among
the Greeks and Romans libations
were offered to the gods on occas-
ion Of solemn prayers and before
meals, the latter taking the place
Of the invocation or "blessing"
used by the christians at a later
period. The practice Of pledging
or health drinking had its origin
in the boisterous convivialities Of
the early Britons, and is cele-
brated in song and story as tar
back as the 9TH century. The
still popular "toast" grew out Of
the jest Of a tipsy wag during the
reign Of Charles the End, and has
since that time been a conspicu-
Gus feature of public banquets and
private feasts.
From the conventional glass at
the social board grew the habit Of
treating" which found its way
to the street, the workshop, and
even behind the bars of prison
walls. 1t was brought TO Ameri-
ca by a convivial, liquor-lovingl
ancestry, and is one among the |
fast disappearing remnants of a
lawless and barbaric age. Fifty |
years ago, more especially in the
south, a man was considered
wanting in hospitality who did
not set before his guest some slim
ulating mixture and insist upon
his partaking. While, viewed in
the light Of sense and reason
which latter day reformsrs have
thrown upon it, il was a mistaken
hospitality to invite ones guest to
make beast Of himself, yet 80
universal was the custom TO omit |
it then was considered a breach |
Of etiquette little short Of an 10.
dignity. Just in proportion to
the intellectual advancement and
Inc spread Of knowledge, the DIS,
semination Of broader views and
The cultivation Of higher tastes
and more Wholesome amusemeuts,
Lhese paganish practices will grad.
ially disappear. Through the
example and influence Of q few
'ocial leaders rapid strides have
already been made in this direc.
ion, wine served at private en-.
,ertainments being now the ex.
,eptiOn rather than the rule.
The saloon may 90 and claw
md order" ostensibly gain the
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