The Republican., 1900-09-06
EXCELLENT REASONS.
Mrs. OrmistOn Chant Tells In Detail
Why She Is Total Abb
stniner,

First of all l believe in total absti-
nence from alcoholic liquors from the
point of view of health. To be well,
and keep well, should be the aim of
every sane human being; but perfect
health is not compatible with the
taking of narcotics.
To begin with, the drinkers, wheth
er moderate or immoderate, are not,
according to their own story, quite
well. With rare exceptions they all
plead something wrong with health
as reason for taking such a power
full drug. Here are few of the rea-
sons for taking alcohol, given at a
drawing-room meeting, and they were
not given shyly either, but with
sort of quiet, complacent pleasure, as
though the speakers felt it mark
of distinction to have "a pain in my
side" "a poor appetite" ''a sluggish
liver" "a weak heart" 'a skin that
doesn't act" neuralgia" nervous
feelings" "a badly set arm," cold
feet" and last but not least, "weak
sight!"' 1t would appear that the
weak brother Tor sister, was much
in evidence at that meeting. Be that
as it may. if these sufferers were
speaking the truth, they were, one
and all, condemning the medicine
they were taking; but when the
total abstinence advocate recommend
ed their leaving it off. for a few
months at any rate, and giving some
nt tra ON foiT f1iol fhau
wonderfully unanimous in their fixed
intention of going on with it.
Now and again ONE meets with peo-
pie IN apparently excellent health
who are alcoholic drinkers because
they declare it keeps them well, sup
ports the constitution" gives tone
to the system" 'braces the nerves."
promotes appetite" ''allays indiges
ton" induces Sleep" increases the
activity of the BRAIN" and "tends to
genial intercourse!" And yet, when
illness comes to these, or the sharp
blows of calamity, the very stimulant
they boasted of utterly fails to stim-
ulate. and the genial" drug is taken
in sufficient quantity to stupefy, so
that difficulty may be-not conquered
oh, no.-not felt.
1t cannot be scientifically right to
be even temporarily and partially par
alyzing the nerves day by day, and
that is the effect of even a small glass
of wine, a teaspoonful of brandy, or
tumbler of beer. No matter how
well the drug-drinker may appear
- 1. %. L. 4
tain morrow coming in which nerves
will avenge the wrong done them, and
refuse at some crisis to do what is
required of them.
The standard of health among wom-
en-, though rapidly rising is still very
low, and the want of robust spirits
genuine gayety and buoyancy among
them is due to causes which can all
be traced to the almost universal
consumption of a narcotic. For in
stance, the recently fashionable ideal
of womanliness amongst men of the
comfortable classes was delicacy, and
chronic. mild ill-health. To faint
elegantly at the fitting moment ap-
pears to have been a quality render
ing one englDle IOr an admirable mar
riage, if a now somewhat old-fash-
toned novel by a well-known writer,
reflects the customs of the time. For
in this novel the heroine faints at
least nearly 800 times before the
story has finished tying the matri-
monial Knot!
But if the wakedup women are
wise, they will cast off the habit Of