The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-02
TIE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF lNTEMPERANCE.
An Experiment That Will BE Watched
With Interest by All Who Are Con-
cerned About the Growth of the Saloon
Evil-Why Men Drink.

With Interest by All Who Are Con-
cerned About the Growth of the Saloon
Evil-why Men Drink.
Recently a preacher shocked his hearers
by saving that If he could command MIR.
Carneigie's fortune he would not waste 1t
on libraries bpt would use it to establish
saloons in all the cities. He qualified this
pronosition by the statement that he
would have no Intoxicating beverages sold
at his bars. His idea that men will not
give up drinking until something else
shall he provided in it's place has been ad-
vanced by many intelligent observers, no.
taby by Arthur Helps. Indeed, expert
ments in a small way have been made on
the lines indicated by the preachers, and
usually with some measure OF success. Ii
will be interesting. and perhaps profitable:
to note the result of an undertaking OF
this kind on n large scale in Russia, where
vodka, a particularly ferocious beverage,
is of quite general use and abuse. There
could hardly be a better field for severe
test of the opinion that men drink chiefly
because of the social opportunities. afford
ed by the drinking place, and not because
OF the drink itself.
The experiment at st. Petersburg is un.
der the direction Of the Government. and
il aimed mainly at the reform Of the in
temperate working people. The substi.
tute for the saloon is place Of general
amusement and refreshment. In largo
building are a theatre, capable OF seating
$500 persons, and several restaurants:
The performances are entertaining and
instructive, and the price of admission is
about five cents. In the restaurants meals
are served at correspondingly low prices;
The hall was crowded at the opening, and
the people were apparently delighted with
the drama, which will be varied with pop
liar concerts and other entertainments.
That the people will swarm to the hall on
every occasion is foregone conclusion,
but how far the resort will displace the
dram shop can be determined only after
considerable G. ,)erience.
American lists have declared that
drunkenness disease, and should be
treated as III. This idea does not, how
ever, bar ,ial treatment. which has been
found to be eficacious in dealing with
many distinct maladies. While the con-
dition of the confirmed drunkard may be
pathological, there is no doubt that, in
vast number of instances it depends on
the mans environment whether he shall
become victim of the disease inebriety.
This is the teaching of everyday expert
ence. The lot of the Russian toiler is
particularly gloomy, and there is no SEN
timent among his fellows against resort
ing to the Supplying national drink. It
is reasonable to assume that if his life
can be frightened by what is offered in
place of drink there will be less induce
ment for him to squander his money in
liquor. In all countries, including our
own, it might be well to try, the effect OF
a popular meeting place, where without
being expected to drink intoxicants the
workers could find helpful entertainment
at prices well within their means.-Phila-
delphia. Record.