The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-02-25
A Late Conversion.

conversion or accession they will, no
doubt spill much fervid oratory.
They may be justified or otherwise,
according to the history OF the
statement that the Queen is total
abstainer from alcoholic liquors.
So says a London contemporary,
who explains that Her Majesty has
been q teetotaler for at least three
years. There is not much to boast
of in the fact, il fact it be, regarded
as bit Of news; for, considering
that the Queen has reached the age
of n, and still looks as If she might
live for years to come, it is perfectly
obvious that Her Majesty must have
lived a most abstemious life in both
eating and drinking. But up to the
beginning Of the present experiment
she was not an abstainer, and par
took nationally Of the liquid bless
ings set before her in the form Of
old wine and old spirits. Several
years ago, however, on the advice of
physicians, she gave up wines on ac-
count OF their sugary properties,
which are productive of certain all
ments, and restricted herself to a
periodic modicum of prime old
whisky and-water. But even this
temperate system, according to the
report, had to be given up on the
same grounds. 1t is not always safe
for persons of the Queens age to
absolutely change even a small
dietetic habit, and we may take it
thst the physicians were satisfied
before allowing Her Majesty to
entertain tho idea of total abstin
ence. Not improbably, however,
tho new course was adopted as a
temporary variation on their we'll
considered advice. So far, as the
report says, the Queen has not suf-
fered, but rather benefited by the
experiment. At all events, she is
pleased, and the doctors, who are
no doubt carefully watching the
situation, have not iuterposed to
check the personal Veto" In stu
dying this Royal case of total alb
stinence, it is not altogether impos-
sible to predict that it may have one
grand issue. The example and in
Auence of the Queen may make the
total disuse Of the alcoholic liquors
popular with the democracy and
fashionable with the aristocracy.
Were this possible to any vast ex-
tent, the effect would be national
and imperial. Distillers and pub
licans would feel it badly, and the
Chancellor OF the Exchequer would
assuredly be moaning and groaning
oyer the construction OF his Budget.
But Sir Wilfrid Lawson would write
a new song, which would become a
national teetotal anthem to be sung
at all the public soirees and private
ea-handlings. The police Offices
would have to be shut, and the con-
stabulary force diminished if not in
the end abolished. Everybody
would be his own policeman, and
take himself home, not on his own
shutter, but in his own autocar,
which would be driven on 'teetotal
principles. Pessimists will, no
doubt, sheer at this delectable
vision, this premonition of the mil
leunium. They will describe it as a
dream; and optimistically inclined
as we may feel, it is greatly to be
feared that even the influence of the
Queen, who is the glory of the age,
will scarcely bring about so ire
mendous a change in the habits OF
her people. 1t is, perhaps, just as
we'll, for the very good reason that
any reform in national habit, as the
slow growth of conviction, is more
likely to be permanent than reform
procured suddenly by the magic OF
of a great name or by the sensa-
tional efforts of convulsionary ora
tors. Yet, at the same time, it is
perfectly certain that the example
OF the Queen in the matter OF total
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