New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
DRINKING ~ MANY AGES.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE ON THE HISTORY OF
ALCOHOL.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE ON THE HISTORY OF
ALCOHOL
At the Natural History Museum Charles f. Pei
lew. Of Columbia University. delivered the first OF
an interesting series Of popular lectures upon alco
hol last night His subject was The History OF
Alcohol. and he began by explaining the universal
prevalence OF stimulating narcotic drugs
showing the universal craving OF mankind for
something TO hide the trials and troubles Of lie
He spoke briefly about the early beverages of the
ancient Hindoos and Chinese. and then illustrated
the drinking habits of the ancient Egyptians
with curious collection OF lantern slides. The
habits and customs OF ancient Greece next
and the worship OF the great god Dionysos.
Bacchus, illustrated by some splendid
photographs OF vases. statues and bass-reliefs
Their wine drunk diluted never stronger
than half water and frequently with two, four
even fifteen parts of the mildcr fluid. Men
ton made Of the curious nature of their wines
the admixture of honey and spices Of rosn and
pentine. Of salt water. and the question OF
fermented and unfermented wines among them and
the ancient Hebrews. The use of wine among the
more hardy and less civilized Macedonians was less
refined and the exploits of Philip and his son Alex
ander rivaled the tales told by the ardent Iro-
hbitonist AT the feast given by Alexander at the
tomb OF Cyrus. prize was offered for the bode5t
drinker and the victor Promachus credited with
fourteen quarts Of wine, died in three days time
from the effects of his debauch. along with some
fifty Of his competitors
Early Rome was described as painfully temperate
especially for the fair who were sentenced 10
death for touching wine. II was sad 10 hear that
kissing on the mouth was invented by the Roman
husband 10 test his wife's abstinence from the wine
cask Later, however, after Greece and the East
were conquered wine flowed freely. and the later
republicans We'd with the subjects OF the early en-
perors in gross and unbridled drunkenness.
The capacity of the Roman must have been CON
siderable for a citizen was knighted by the En-
peror Claudius under the title Of Tricongius, or
three gallon man." such having been single
draught of his. , 49,, 49,.
lecturer II was somewhat surprising TO hear that
in the first call for supplies sent home by me
Plymouth Bay coionists the famous appeal headed
by ministers" there were. along with equests for
barley rye and wheat for seed. and stores OF fruit
trees a petition for "vyne planters and FOR mop
rcotes" The Minister, Mr.. Higgnson. was duly
sent in 1925 and his ship was furnished with 10
tI.rs Deere . juns canarie. 20 gallons aqua Nltf
and only 6 tuns OF water. - -, -
The lecture closed with a short description OF the
last century. characterized by the growth ana de-
velobme nj Of the temperance movement. some line
illustrat lions given from Crulksnank power
mi mates of The Bottle and comparison OF the
drinkng habits OF both the educated ana unedu-
Gated classes Of the present day as compared win
those of a hundred or even fifty years ago showed
the great advance OF the present civilization.