The Portland daily press., 1895-10-08
ALCOHOLISM IN FRANCE.
A Great and Growing Evil Threatening
the Ruin of the People.

fI an article on 1.-The reign of alcohol
in France by Prof Victor Walker in the
New York independent, the writer quotes
Dr. Max Nordau on the subject as fol-
lows: Intemperance is the great national
disease of France, aud the true friends of
the French people are panied to see the
spreading of this evil among nation
that has done SO much for liberty and
civilization. 1t is, however, not an easy
task to demonstrates this truth to foreign
ers, the great majoriy of whom are labor
ing under misconception and prejudice.
''The French surpass all other nations
in sobriety, and Paris is the last place to
look for Incorporate drinking '-such
statements as these are heard all over
Europe.
Though the verdict is general, it is
but partly founded on truth. 1t ignores
many stubborn facts, of which the mass
of casual observers are quite Ignorant,
however we'll known they are to physl-
clans and others that have been favored
with occasional glances behind the cur
tain. do not deny that fewer drunk
ards areF seen in Paris than in London !;
but there are reasons for this English
little during the week. 1t is on Satur-
day evening, when they have received
their wages, that many of them indulge
in Bacohanalian origes and drink until
they are picked up out of the gutter,
whereas in Paris people seldom drink to
such an extent as to lose all self-control.
But they drink continuously, necessarily
they slowly poison their constitutions
and destroy their health. If you would
see the consequence of such a ruinous
course, do not look for them in the gut
ter but in the sick room and in the hos
pital.
The prevalent opinion that the English,
as a nation, are more addicted to the Use
of alcoholic drinks than the French, must
also be attributed in part to the fact that
the former make great deal of noise
about temperance. AmongHthem public
sentiment is awake; they are constantly
talking about their evil; they have writ
ten volumes upon it, have organized tenn
perance societies, and are united in their
efforts to suppress it The French, on the
other hand, are 10th to acknowledge that
alcoholism has become a widespread dis
case among them. They endeavor to
keep the matter from public observation.
They carefully avoid speaking about 1T,
for fear il might be brought to public
notice. They even ridicule temperance
societies and other laudable efforts made
to prevent the evil from spreading.
Drinking has become habit with us.
Every body drinks regardless of age sex
or occupation. Even infants, when
Troublesome, are quieted with the wine
bottle Shortly after my arrival at Paris
| ono day happened to meet q small boy
belonging to a neighboring family on his
way to school In one hand he was car
rying his sate hel, in the other basket.
Pointing to tho latter | addressed my
little friend in these words 'Gugesse,
what have you in there?' The youngster
lifted the cover and exposed q piece OF
white bread and bottle of claret [ have
since ascertained that it is not uncom-
mon for children to take wine with them
to school. To US this seems monstrous
but the French find such habits perfectly
Irouer =
Partisan workmen are discreet drunk
a rs. Enough we rarely see them intoxi-
lated, they are constantly under the
stimulating influence of alcohol. I have
treated thousands of laboring men, some
lei cir homes, Others in the public hos
pitfalls, and inquired closely into their
modes of living From the answers that
We're given | have formed an idea of the
daily life of the average Partisan ouvrier,
which, I am confident, is not rextrava-
CANT. Early III the morning he takes q
glaas of liquor, either bitter or strong
or kind, which he calls 'brulegosier'
(throat-hurner). or casSepoItr1ne' (chest-
breaker). In connection with it he gen
orally eats a piece Of bread and bowl of
soup. About II o'clock he takes his
breakfast, consisting of ragout or some
other dish containing meat, but in in
sufficient quantities, with an enormous
mass of bread and one or two pints of
Wine He invariably finishes breakfast
withFcoffee. followed by glass of cognac,
which is called la goutte' (the drop) OIL
la rince guele' (the throat-rinser) At {
or o'clock dinner is taken, consisting OF
a vegetable soup, liliputian quantity OF
meat, a salad, bread, two pints Of wine, q
cup of coffee and la goutte' (the drop.
The laborer who lives thus considers him
self man OF temperate habits.
Many, however, exceed these bounds by
drinking more wine and cognac and by
indulging in an occasional glass OF alb
sinthe.