Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-19

cles, TO use narcotics and to indulge in
alcoholic beverages, has recently been
voiced in the press.
While believing that this regrettable
habit is gaining ground among the
members of her sex, Mrs. Lake, one of
the Vice Presidents of the Catholic
total abstinence Union Of America, de-
clines to take the entire responsibility
for this statement.
My report, prepared and read at the
Catholic Total Abstinence Convention
in Philadelphia, August 10, 1900, was
not written with any thought of SEN
sationalism, nor of creating the excite
ment and arousing the criticism it. did.
1t was on the line of my work for total
abstinence, and, as my official position
specially defines, 'in the interest of
women and children"
had but one thought, that was to
bring the subject of the drink habit
among women (Which / have studied
and observed closely for five or six
years) to the attention of the dele
gates, that they might go back to their
respective constituencies with warn
ing and an incentive to greater effort
among the young, and greater zeal in
discountenancing those social practi-
ces which lead to such baneful results,
and which are a greater menace to our
country and its people than all other
phases of the drink question combined.
/ abduced no example from my own
experience or knowledge of facts, as l
did not wish to violate confidence,
wound any one, or hold up this body
or that club as an example while 9TH
ers were just as guilty. But cited the
testimony of authorities on the subject
-alienists physicians, scientists and
those having charge Of institutions
where inebriates are treated, because
thought their evidence would carry
greater weight than that Of any indi-
vidual. Judge of my surprise to have
all my authorities ignored by the
press, and the statements which right
ly belong to others put into my mouth.
However, as they said nothing that
could not indorse from my own obser-
vation, stand for it, only it is unfair
to take the credit from those to whom
it is due.
Judging from the criticism that l
have seen concerning the matter the
chief offense lies in that statement of
DR.. Cyrus Edison, who claimed the
drink habit was prevalent among So
ciety women-"It's treatment is al |
most as common as that for coughs
and colds among the Four Hundred"
There is trite saying that "'tis only |
the wounded bird that fiutters,' there
fore, / take it that that portion of So
ciety which seems most indignant is
most culpabe. There are society
women who are leaders in everything
that is pure, lofty, refined, intellectual, |
against whom no such charge 'cculd
lie. But there are others, and what was
said concerning them and the drink
habit-whisky teas, punch-bowl recep-
tions, afternoon poker games with
strong drink, refreshments, etc.-is
true. Every word true. And as we
go down the scale of the social ladder
fin1 cipn i1ar 1np1inata1 i,,l
quantity, if not in quality.
If | am asked, Are the above con-
ditions prevalent among majority of
women?I should say emphatically,
mo, thank Cod" But they are sufi-
GENTLY prevalent to be alarming. AS
we are now reaping the harvest of
past habits, so as the habit increases
will we in the days to come see more
of these evil results, unless the cause
is checked.
Another source OF life-desroying
practice was laid bare when one of the
greatest specialists on neurotics of the
century said: IF you would stop
drunkenness, begin at the cradle-in
your nurseries" | would go a step
further and say: Begin before the
conception of a new life" Though a
child may not inherit the direct appe-
tite for alcohol, yet it is true that a
weak, characterless moral pervert will
be the child of any mother who poi
sons her body and debases her char
acter by drinking egg-nogg, cocktails,
brandy or beer while she is forming
the character and building up the
structure of the child God has given
her the privilege of bearing.
Then in almost every walk of life
our young women are surrounded by
such conditions that the wonder is
that more of them have not the curse
of alcoholic appetite fastened rJon
them.
In that part Of the social world
where hand-painted china or cut-glass
punch bowls are ever present at social
functions, who is chosen to serve its
wine or branded contents? Why, the
prettiest, most winsome girl the hos
tess can find. Then when the young
girl entertains her own friends the