Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-08
EXCESSIVE TEA DRINKING.

49,
/ EXCESSIVE TEA DRINKING.
DeIeterious EGectA Noticeable Among
English Women ana Children.
From the London Telegraph.
There is a new and sudden terror added
to the troubles of housekeepers in these
days, one that was unknown to mistresses
of long ago, and was not among the cata-
logue of misfortunes which logged the
footsteps of our mothers and grand
mothers. In those days servants may have
been stupid, impatient, idle or careless,
but they were strong. They ate, slept and
lived well, and If they suffered from any
indispositon it was one which usually
could be explained by the. fact that they
had a generous appetite. Npthing could
be healthier or more vigorous than the
servant oflsthose days. bright-eyed, rosy
checked and buxom she was the embodi-
ment of health. Then food was coarse,
often insufficient, and their sleeping and
living space was wont to fail short of the
number of cubic feet of+fresh air which in
these days of scientific, sanitation is con-
sidered necessary to maintain sound con-
stitution. One well remembers what the
servants sleeping accommodation used to
be-generally a garnet in the roof or d cei-
lar below stairs, frequented by rats and
black beetles and place of horror. calling
up a shudder at the very thought They
worked much harder than our domestic
helpers of today, their outings were fewer
and much shorter, and yet in spite Of all
these drawbacks they were robust and
healthy-looking girls.
Nowadays, alas, few of the young Wo-
men in domestic service appear to be
strong, and they are constantly suffering
from weakness and want OF blood This,
however, is a very general complaint in all
classes, and every girl. high or humble,
seems to be compelled to take iron in some
form or other. Only after this tonic has
been taken for months or even years do
they appear to regain something of good
health and sound appearance. So far as
the upper classes concerned, it is very
difficult to say whence this mysterious
complaint arises. All girls are liable to it,
at any age and in any locality. 1t might,
perchance, be the result of living in towns,
but that in the country, with the breath of
heaven blowing from every quarter one
comes across pale, heavy-eyed. hstiess
girls There is explaining reason Of
bad or unWholeSome food, or indifferent
nourishment, and to no one cause one
attribute the fact, unless 1t be that moth
ers of today are not so strong as their
own parents We're. 1t may be in their
case that the nerve exhaustion of modern
life has tended to enfeeble the constitu-
tons of the women of England, and thus
the deterioration of their children's health
may be partially accounted for. but one
may puzzle in vain to probe into the real
cause of the widespread anaemia of to-
day among the higher classes.
In less exalted ranks it is far easier to go
is undoubtedly due to the excessive quanti-
ties of strong tea they consume daily. Moth
ing has more seriously injured the health
of women of the working classes than the
cheapening of tea. l have no hesitation in
saying that 1t is the constant drinking of
strong tea which makes the women of our
toiling masses delicate and their children
anaemic, for not only do these latter in
herit that weakness from their mothers, but
become even greater sinners in this direc-
ton than their parents, 1t may be Won
dered whether the housekeeper or mistress
of an average establishment has any idea
how often their servants drink tea in the
course of the day, or Of the strength of
what is imhibed. Just as in their own
homes they put the teapot on the hob and
let it stand there from Inorning till night,
the stuff itself being 7stewed connection.
| They drink tea before breakfast, at break
| fast at II o'clock. after midday dinner, at
| tea time. and sometimes even before going
| to bed the tea being 50 strong IS to lie
| almost poisonous. One of the constituents
| of tea as every one krfows is tannin, and
| that taken In the quantities CONSUMED by
our servants is absolute destruction to the
digestion. so that none OF the Who'll asome
| food they take is properly assimiatad, with
results of ill-nourishment. bloodlessness,
| want of breath and weakness. One after
| another in large household fails, and if
| one takes the trouble to inquire, it will be
| found that they have all been living On
| strong tea.
| Tea is of course, mild sort Of stmu-
| liant, and for the moment refreShes ard
| pulls them together. They know nothing
| of the effect it has on their health, nor do
they believe the warnings that are con-
| stantly sounded in their ears. When China
| tea was the only description procurable the
| quantity that could be imbibed was much
| less Moreover. it was not nearly potent
as the Ceylon and Indian tea which has
| taken it's place, nor did it contain much
| tannin, and, consequently, people could
| drink 1t with greater impunty. In every
| well-ordered household the quantity of tea
| per head is regulated. and if that amount
| be adhered to the mischief would be les
| sened. Nearly every servant. however,
| buys tea over and above her allowance, so
| that there Is no check on the habit. We
| take every precaution that our women ser
| wants should be sober. and yet we allow
| what Is quite as bad dram drinking to go
| on unnoticed The effect of drinking tea in
| the quantities and of the strength INDUCED
| in by nearly all domestics Is really
| very serious matter, and every head of a
| household should make it her business to
| find out its extent and stop it as far ss she
| can. One cause Of the increase Of tea
| drinking is the custom of giving beer
money instead of, as formerly, allowing a
| certain quantity Of beer per head. and it Is
| a constant occurrence when engaging a
| servant for her to mention that she does
| not drink beer. No doubt this is true, but
| as substitute she takes tea, which, in the
| quantity she consumes it. is more harmful
| than beer.
| At this moment experienced housekcepers
| could put their fingers on dozens Of girls
| who are unfit to remain in their situations
| from this cause. and unless some stand is
| made against 1T the numbers will go on in
creasing. If the strong tea is stopped, the
| remedy works like magic, and strength and
| color are soon regained, because food
| nouriShes and the blood ceases to be i'm
poverished. Inquiries from any doctor prac-
| ticfng among servants will bear out these
| contentious and it is Well that the etten-
| ton OF all mistresses should be directed to