The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-03
WOMEN WHO DRINK.
The Custom Said TO Be Increasing
Among Society People.
81. Louis Republic


Have you noticed at any of the local
summer gardens that many women We'll
known in St. Louis society sip and appar-
emily enjoy decoctions that femininity are
popularity supposed to decline and abhOr?
A prominent st. Louis physician is authori-
ty for the statement that the tipping prac-
tice among society women is assuming pro-
portions that are alarming and dangerous.
His name cannot be given because his eli
entele is largely Of the fashionable folk,
and he knows too we'll whereof he speaks.
Plain plebeian beer, or good old rye whis-
ky does not seem to find favor with the
fair imbiber, but rather they turn to the
more inSidious paresis-producing decoctions
of the French. Cordials, liqeurs and mix
lures seem to lead, and with a Woman'S
idea of the eternal fitness of things she
chooses her drinks much as she does her
effect The prismatic colorS of the French
liqeurs are so pretty and attractive that
the penalty that is being exacted from her
physical system-and then She quits IL she
can; If not goes to a physician.
You would be surprised to see the NUM-
Der Of dipsomania cases that are on my
visiting list" says the Republics medical
informant, and then he goes on to say:
fastening upon st. Louis society women.
There can be no doubt about it, even 10
the outsider who looks at society longing
ly from a place afar off: Did you ever no
of the different summer gardens frequently
order drinks that have heretofore been re-
garded as distinctly masculine? The
reason is not far to seek. The variety of
soft drinks is in reality not large. They are
nearly all based on carbonated water, and
they soon become insufficient and %unsatis-
flying. So milady rebels; she feels that
she is hampered too much by unjust con-
V~cntionalities and she argues with herself
her pet theory Of a single standard OF pro-
priety for men and women. Then some
night at some amusement resort she asks
her escort if there would be any particular
harm if she had, ahem-well, for instance,
49, - 4lA-o +Lgyr,i Tho nh1nnaG lVn IN
to 1 that unless he is q relative or her
fance that he will encourage her curiosity,
and presto! the beginning Is made. After
that progress is easy, and the ultimate re-
suit depends entirely on the woman. If
she be of good, healthy stock. and with Il
balance wheel of good common sense, she
will indulge her newly acquired taste in
moderation and no one will be the wiser.
But on the other hand take a case that
l have now under The father
of the woman was a noted drinker, and
his sons followed in his footsteps. The
mothers adherence for drink was as
strong as her husbands craVtng. and while
she could not control the boys, she did
bring up the girls on the most strict tenn
perance lines. Until she reached her tWen-
ty-tifth year the woman Whom l am treat
ing knew nothing OF hquor except That 1t
had decreased materially the happiness Of
her girlhood home. She was at a summer
garden one night and took her first drink.
1t was an ordinary plain mint julep, limo
cent looking enough, but 1t was quite sufl-
cient TO awaken a craving that before had
lain dormant. From that Tune on she gratl-
fled her desire until it was necessary 70
call in a physician. VIII she recover? Oh,
nv bow. that's a question. How many
men with Inherited craving for liquor do
recover? You know as well as / that they
are few. and a womans Will power is less
than that of man.
THE remedy? Bless you there is none
except to stay away from 1t. Ten FEARS
ago a woman would not, dare drink an al
coholic beverage in public. but heigho.
times have changed. and the vices of this
degenerate age are the physicians excuse
for the accumulation OF wealth"