The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-07-11

is one of the greatest dangers that
threatens the nation. and in fact one
might 20 On almost Indefinitely in quot
ing from the medical men of France as
to the evil effects of this seductive and
destroying drink.
Some idea Of the increase in the use
of this beverage may be gained from the
stdti tics in tue hands of the French
tax authorities. for it can then be seen
that the consumption of ahsinthe in Paris
has increased from $50, 900 gallons in
1855 10 an estimated consumption of g.,
$50 GOO for last wear or, in other words
more than four times as much absinthe
is consumed 10 day rs was drunk about
ten years ago aud when ii is remem-
bered that these figures represent the
amount of pnrc alcohol in the liquor and
not in its bulk. it will be seen that the
actual amount of liquor consumed must
be much greater.
A GROWING HABIT
In 1855 the absnthe drinker, either in
he fashionable cafes or in the wine shops
frequented by the working classes, was
the exception Now he is the rule, and
the idle promcnader who, just before the
dinner hour takes the trouble TO follow
the bouleyards from the Opera House
to the Place de la Republique a distance
of mile. will see all the seats occupied
before the cafes. aud half these people
will be slipping that liquid whose green
ish hue is unmiStakable. Then, II he
desires to extend his Investigations and
enters one of the so-called bars, where
bad liquors of all sorts are sold from
three halfpence to three pence the glass,
he viii see different class of people
old men poorly clad. who earn few
sous Il day by selling newspapers, or,
perhaps. heggars. but instead Of buying
food, all buy absinthe, which serves them
in the place of food and clothing
Up to Il few years ago the use of alb
,inthe WAS practically unknown in Eng
land. but its consumption has now in.
creased to such an extent that league
has been formed with the object of pre-.
vaiing upon the government to prohibit
the sale Of the poison. Five years ago
the French poison MS ii was called
was sold only in the cafes of the French
quarter, but to-day it is dispensed by the
wholesale in every public house, and
dealers who formerly disposed OF some
ten dozen bottles year now get rid OF
from five Ia six hundred dozen. As the
result one-third of the people arrested for
intoNieation in London last year were
absinthe drinkers, aud the last reports
from the Committee ON Luuacy and
Charity show that many of the inmates
If the insane asylums have been brought
q that condition by the use of the French
beverage.
In New York the demand for absiuthe
has increased to an alarming extent dur
ing the past few years, and il is esti
mated that there are no less than five
thousand ahsinthe hends in that city at
this time. The liquor was drunk in the
French section for years before there was
any general demand for il, but il was q
beverage that appealed to the nervous
American temperament and gradually il
was taken up In fact. its use has now
become widespread that, il is esti-
mated, more than $1,000 eases were sold
in New York alone last year, and from
New York the desire for the insidious
poison has extended to almost every city
in the country.
While the use OF absinthe as a beyer-
age is matter to be deplorcd or even
TO be prohibited by proper legislation,
the liquor has n medicinal value that Is
rommrndablc At first. and when taken
under proper prescription. its effect is
extremely wholesome. When taken in
small doses IT acts as tonic and tends
greatly to stimulate the digestive organs.
The danger. however. lies in the fact
that the absinthe habit is one that is
easy TO be acquired, and when once ac-
quired is almost impossible to break
From day TO day the victim csaves larger
quantities, and as its effect when freely
consumed is very bad the absintht
drmker seldom lives more than a few
years after the habit has been acquired