The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-05-31
WOMEN AND LIQUOR.
situation by Mrs. Lake Of Catholic
Total Abstinence society.

rat the National Catholic Total Absti-
nence convention Mrs. Lake, the able and
eloquent vice president of that organiza-
tion. called attention 10 the increase Of the
drinking habit among women Her state
ments have been severely criticised and
she felt called upon 10 issue the following
declaration. which is worthy Of a careful
reading. We give the substance Of her
paper-Union SignaLl
Judging from the criticism that /
have seen concerning the matter, the
chief oifense lies IN that statement
of DR.. Cyrus Edison, who claimed the
drink habit was prevalent among So
ciety women-''its streatmenta
common as that for coughs and colds
among the Four Hundred"
There Is a trite saying that "'Tis
only the wounded bird that hutters,"
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.
! am asked: "Are the above con-
ditions prevalent among a majority
of women?" l should say emphat-
ically, MOI Thank Godl 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 10 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: "If you would
stop drunkenness, begin at the cradle,
in your nurseries" ] would 90 a step
further and say, begin before the CON
ception of a new life. Though child
may not inherit the direct appetite
for alcohol. yet 10 is true that a 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 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
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 its
wine or branded contents2 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 I'm a maudln condition of host
ess and gnests After-theater sup
pers. with champagne as beverage,
have sent many a young woman home
I'm an intoxicated condition Beer gar
densare thronged with people of both
sexes. Go 10 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 end2
And why wonder az woman's yield .
gng TO the subtle. insidious influence +
of alcohol? Has she not brain tis-
sues. nerve centers and flesh fiber as
well as her brother? And if practice
becomes a habit. and habit vice with .
him. why not with her2 She is diff .
ferent only in so far as her depth OF .
pietv and glorious womanhood keeps
her where God places her, on a high
er pedestal than her brother man.