The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-14
DRINKING FIERY PoTIoNs.
Natives of Normandy Who Make a
Soup of Brandy and Bread.

London Telegraph: For some time
past the lower classes in Normandy
have not enjoyed a particular reputa-
ton for sobriety, but some really ap-
palling evidence is furnished today
which affords material for very melan-
choly reflection. To begin with Rouen,
it is estimated that the population of
that town consumes yearly upward of
5000, 600 liters of alcohol The dock la
borers, who are often fine specimens
Of humanity at the age of 20, are Of
ten quite old at the age of 40. Earn
ing on an average about 3 francs a
day, they spend only from 20 to 30
centimes on solid food, and all the
rest is thrown away on poisonous
drink. Formerly they We're an eXcep
ton to the rule of temperance, but
now the other Workmen are Succumb
mig in their turn to temptation. One
person who employs $50 hands says
that out of that number there are only
five whom he can send out on special
work. In another establishment where
200 men are employed but Is are COM
paratively sober. All go straight off to
the public house whenever they have
a moments leisure. Alcohol is taken
with the so-called coffee. A couple of
men after their dejeuner will order
"quatre sous de cafe ct un franc de
SOulIe- o cups u CnlcOTS anu
three-quarterS of a liter of atrOciouS
eau de vie, into which a little sui
phuric acid has been introduced, is
placed before them.
The women are nearly as bad. After
their work they reduce their cooking
to the simplest expression, and bread,
alcohol and coffee are the chief in
gradients of the repast. though even
the last is sometimes absent. Slices
of Z nd
a iitre of eau de vie poured over
them. Thus is the SOUP not seldom
made. Instances are on record where
infants have commenced the coffee
and alcohol regime before the age of
one month. A schoOlmaster once asked
the children in class of 63, and from
6 to 9 years of age. who were accuS-
toned to drink this vile cOncoctiOn
daily, to hold up their hands. and "a
did so at once. but he thinks that
many did not understand the question,
it being estimated by these teachers
that from 80 to so per cent take alco-
hol after their meals.
Nor is this practice confined TO the
towns. The country laborers are get
ting just as bad. They drink every
day about eight liters of cider and six
or seven full-sized glasses of eau de
vie. Their Sundays are spent entirely
at the carabet, and in the evenings
they are to be seen lying dead drunk
at the sides of the roads or on their
door steps 1t is estimated that on
market days-that is, twice a week
the peasant takes from 20 to 40 cups of
coffee with the usual alcoholic supple
ments over bargaining. Naturally la
mentations are being uttered over these
sad disclosures. Now" it is exclaimed.
there is no cause for surprise that
the finest race in France should be on
the decline. That its population should
be diminishing and that Norman in
dustry should be growing less and less
capable of competing with the industry
of England. whose workmen are stead
lily replacing the alcohol which they
formerly drank with tea, butter and
good roast beef 8"