The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18

Naphtha Drinking Spreads Where Brandy
Cannot be Obtained.

The British Vice-Consul at Skienstotd
I'm his latest report states that during the
past year the time expired Tor whlch Two
of the towns In his district-Skien ana
Previg-tad the right OF having the Goth
onDurg system OF Bolags, or SamIass' .oi
the sale Of spirits as mohopoiy. ~
cording to the new liquor law tIle inndpi
tants OF towns have the right OF Eeloins
the further existence OF any Bolag II,
their town. Both SMen and BreVis 'oteo
by large majorities against II, so tudt
they have no longer those Bolags, WIilch
were so warmly advocated by the MI
wegian press when the question Oh NJ
Gothenburg system was fully ventilated
n short time ago. The fact OF the Bolags
having been voted down in several other
towns in Norway besides SkIen ana Bre-
Wig shows that they are not so popular
as might be supposed. But It should be
stated that IL is mainly owing TO the per-
sevcring agitation Of the teetotal element
aided by the womens votes. that the
Samlars are being ousted. In towns
where these institutions are thus abolish
ed, and where no privileges for the sale
Of spirits are still held by private indl-
viduals from former days. spirits cannot
now be BOUGHT IN smaller quantities than
&c litres. which practically means the
non-sale Of spirits in such towns But In
some towns privileges are still held by
private individuals. This Is the case in
Skien. where the spirit traffic nOurishes
undinlnished. to the great chaerin Of
those whose zeal has secured the aboli-
ton OF tho Samlag. But no sooner are
the Sainlags abolished, which Is generally
effected by agitation, and sives rise 10
considerable ill-fceling, than the press
complains that large sources or income
have thus been lost to the communities
The profits from the Samlags were al
ways utilized for the support Of chari-
table institutions and objects Of general
local interest, which must now be main
tanned by taxing the ratcpayers or else be
totally abandoned. THE new Norwegian
LIQUOR law may have its advantages, but
when it contains clauses prohibiting the
sale, even ia the best hotels, of any kind
OF spirits from Saturday midday TO Mon
day morning, the law becomes inc Xpedi-
ent and onerous. This IS proved by the
fact that the Christiania police authori-
ties have found 10 wise TO make represen-
tatiOns TO the Government to obtain the
relaxation of the aDOve-named clause.
The liquor question in Norway seems TO
be undergoing a Crisis Of alteration. VIII
Ing as the NOrW-gidns seem 10 be TO re-
duco the sale of spirits 10 a minimum.
they are scarcely likely 10 allow OF such
far-reaching entertainments on the per-
sOnal Liberties Of free citizens Of a free
country The prohibitions already eN-
listing in some districts against the sale
OF spirits has already led to evil results
in the snaps Of the excessive use OF naph-
tina by the lower classes. and the intro
ductiOn Of a class OF liquor called ladde-
vim. which on analysis quite lately has
been found TO contain highly injurious
ingredients and the sale Of which Is now
strictly forbidden" The British Consular
agent AZ Ionsberg also mentions in his
report that the Samlag in that town was
abolished by the public VOTE so that for
five years brandy cannot be obtained i'm
the tOwn.-London Times.