Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
Europe is Preparing for a Battle
Against Intemperanoe,
use OF LIQUOR ON THE INCREASE
Condition Of Affairs in France is
Highly Alarming.
HORRORS OF ABSIHTHE


PARIS May 81. 1899.
Public attention is being forcibly directed
Just at present to the aggressive campaign
against intempcrance which is being car
ricd on IN nearly every country on the con-
tinent and especially in France. The adj
vance in this country is absolutely unique
of its kind. as there never before has been
any general movement of a national ma
ture. The French have been wont to look
upon themselves as good examples of mod
Grafton. while they gave their pity to Ger
many and England as horrible examples of
people who drink too much.
But France is now duly shocked. DIR.
LabOrde of the famous Faculte de Medi-
cine in Paris has calmly informed the
French that they are the most Incorporate
of all the civilized peoples on earth, and
gives science and figures to prove it.
When this announcement was made the
French frankly told the doctor that he was
mistaken. and. worse, the newspapers took
IT up and published columns of indignant
protest against the slanderous charge-and
investigated as second thought. Then
they changed their confident note. for in a
series of articles prepared by NJ. COrnely of
the influential daily Figaro it Is shown that
close to fifteen liters. or about sixteen
quarts, of alcohol are consumed every
year for each of the IS, 100000 people in
stead OF heading the alcoholic list Ger
many and the British Isles come third and
Jurth in the ranking. as Belgium takes
second place after France. but with nearly
one-third less in its per capita consump-
ton Fifth in the list is Switzerland. the
home of absinthe. and then in the order
named there follow Italy. Holland, the
United States. Sweden, Norway and Can
ada Norway is the most temperate of any
European country. Canada leads the world
In its moderation. with a per capita aver
age Of over two lters year. This means
that our neighb0rs in the northern dominion
drink less than seventh as much as the
mother country, from whence many of
them came as French emigrants.
Starts at the Top.
Most reforms. of whatever kind, may be
counted upon to have humble beginning
fhence 10 work upward among the people
But this movement reverses the almost es-
tablished order. for 1t has started at the
summit of Intellectual and cultured France.
1t Is from the TOrbonne the FacuIte de
Medicine and the other famous lycees that
The new propaganda has been sent forth
Even more remarkable is Its present de-
Nel0pment for total abstinence Heading
The movement IS DR.. c. Grain. one of the
best medical authorities in France who is
PRESIDENT of the National Antf-Alcoholic
League and editor Of a temperance month
~ called l. AlcOoL As his active adjutants
Is a COtcriC of forty-two doctors of r1edi-
cine and other faculty members. nearly all
OF Wlom are men of wide reputation and
independent means. several being total all
StalI, - in common with their president
ud"I the stimulus from their distinguish
t'i leaders 1t Is not strange that the stu
Geh.- IN these schools and in the colleges
throughout France should take up the cam
lat-'- They have organized the Students
National le Grain League and are pushing
the work into all parts Of the country un-
der the leadership Of Georges Barley. who
i an advn|ate-at-l:w actively connected
with The defense in The Dreyfus case When
! saw MI Barley a few days ago he said
he had just returned from a to1r in the
south Of France. where he made rwentv
SIX temperance addresses in as many
schools ami colleges In all Of these he or
gan leagues Of the students. numbering
from twenty 70 100 members in each. To
such proportions has this movement reach
ed that Il Is extending to other countries
i,otahly To Switzerland whore students
leagues have lately been established at I.au-
same. Basic ana Zurich.
"IsillinG the Little Worm"
Drinking shops in the poorer quarters Of
Paris are open at o'clock in the morning
and even then there ara shivering men and
women who have braved the nipping air
10 Kill the little worm" they call their
thirst for drink In the poor quarters l
have seen by night little groups Of women
put their drink money into a common fund
so the amount of alcohol may he a bit
larger than If they bought separately and
they drink II OftentimeS in its full
strength This use of neat drinks is
steailiy growing. So fierce is the appetite
LOT the strongest Installations that the law
c"mpelS chemists to sci! methylated spirits
only in ColOref form. which means that
they AT" poisoned. Alcohol from wood is
deadly: but popular with them. In Paris
they drink ether. in the north Of France
turPeujne i growing in pDpularity and
here and there case is found where kero-
sene oil IS taken. although this is generally
done secretly. Petroleum in especial has a
terrible effect. and rirg