The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-03-21
WOMEN AND LIQUOR.
Strong Presentation of the Pesent
Situation by Mrs. Lake of Catholic
Total Abstinence Society.

TAT the National Catholic Total Absti-
nence convention Mrs Lake, the able and
eloquent vice president of that organiza-
ton, called attention to the increase of the
drinking habit among women. Her state
ments have been severely criticised and
she felt called upon to issue the following
declaration, which is worthy of careful
reading. We give the substance of her
paper.-Union SignaLl
Judging from the criticism that 1
have seen concerning the matter, the
chief otfense lies IN that statement
of DR.. Cyrus Edison, who claimed the
drink habit was prevalent among So
ciety women-':its treatment almostas
common as that for coughs and colds
among the Four Hundred"
There is trite saying that "'Tis
only the wounded bird that fiutters,"
therefore | take it that that portion
of society which seems most indig-
nant is most culpable. There are So
ciety women who are leaders in
everything that is pure, lofty, re-
fined, intellectual, against whom no
such charge could lie. But there are
others, and what was said concern
ing them and the drink habit
whisky teas, punch bowl receptions,
afternoon poker games with strong
drink, refreshments, etc.-is true.
Every word is true. And as we go
down the scale of the social ladder we
find similar customs duplicated in
quantity if not in quality.
l am asked: Are the above con-
ditions prevalent among a majority
of women?" [ should say emphat-
ically, No! Thank God! But they are
sufficiently prevalent to be alarming.
AS we are now reaping the harvest
of past habits, so as the habit in
creases will we in the DAYS to come
see more of the evil results, unless the
cause is checked.
Another course of life-destroying
practice was laid bare when one of
the greatest specialists on neurotics
of the century said: eff you would
stop drunkenness, begin at the cradle,
in your nurseries," / would go a step
further and say, begin before the con-
ception of a new life. Though a child
may not inherit the direct appetite
for alcohol, yet it is true that weak,
characterless moral pervert will be
the child of any mother who poisons
her body and debases her character
by drinking egg-nog, cocktails, brandy
or beer while she is forming the
character and building up the struc-
ture of the child God has given her
the privilege of bearing.
Then in almost ayarv a1ly Of 1ifa
our young women are surrounded by
such conditions that the wonder is
that more of them have not the
curse of alcoholic appetite fastened
upon them.
In that part of the social world
where hand-painted china or cut-glass
punch bowl is ever present at social
functions, who is chosen to serve it's
wine or brandie@ contents? Why, the
prettiest, brightest, most winsome
girl the hostess can find. Then when
the young girl entertains her own
friends the practice taught by her
elders is carried out, resulting oft
times in maudlin condition of host
ess and guests. After-theater sup
| PCios WIN IC dS d
have sent many young woman home
in an intoxicated condition. Beer gar
dens are thronged with people of both
sexes. Go to some of these, my crit
les, and see our future mothers, now
in their teens, filling and drinking
glass after glass of beer in company
with those of the opposite sex. Then
ask yourself, first, is it any wonder
that mems respect and reverence for
womankind is lessening daily; and
secondly, how or where will this end?
And why wonder at woman's yield
| ing to the subtle, insidious influence
| of alcohol? Has she not brain It's
sues, nerve centers and flesh fiber as
well as her brother? And if practice
becomes habit, and habit vice with
him, why not with her? She is diff
| ferent only in so far as her depth of
piety and glorious womanhood keeps
her where God places her, on a high.
] er pedestal than her brother man.