The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27
THE DECLINE or DRINKING.

injured.
THE DECLINE or DRINKING.
Less AMI Less lntemperance Among Men
and Women.
1t rarely happens that the periodical
announcement that incompetence Ia in
creasing among women comes from
playwright. That is the chief novelty
about the recent utterances OF Bronson
Howard.
Az has been said many times, anybody
who comes into contact with society women
Of the day knows that indulgence in liquor
has not increased among them, but de-
olined. They have learned that their
health and beauty are to be kept only
through sanitary living.
Indulgence in liquor Ii one Of the first
things that doctors nowadays prohibit.
Indeed, most physicians OF the younger
school are 90 rabid and incorporating
on that point that the effect Of their advice
IL sometimes lost on patients.
Il can always tell at glance said one
Of the physicians who have many New
York women Of social Importance under
their care, 1the man or the woman who
takes too much alcohol. 1t produces fat
In nine cases out OF ten, and fat Of kind
that is Immediately recognizable. Bloat
is the vulgar name for 1t, and that de-
scribes 1t accurately enough.
ANY woman who drinks to excess 10
going TO show the Hrst effects in that way.
And the stout woman IL now entirely out
Of tho mode.
~, khx,~ ar
generation Of women that they have the
advantage in retaining their figures over
those who cannot indulge in these sports.
So the others struggle by prudence in
eating and drinking to keep as attractive
in figure "a their friends.
'They know that massage alone will
not do this, nor will exercise by itself keep
them down. They must give up fattening
things, and women willing to do without
bread, sweets and starches are equal to
abstaining from liquor. Cocktails, even
though they be rather dry, are the most
fattening drink woman can take, and
| next to that comes sweet champagne.
Formerly women, and for chat matter
men, never knew what caused their troubles
until after It was too late But In recent
years there has been such a spread Of pub
licity on this subject that the effects Of
alcohol are now we'll understood
Certain things are going to happen II
people indulge in too much drink, and
nowadays they know IL. Formerly they
did not.
Tho general decrease In drinking during
the past few years has had its effect chiefly
on tho women, Of the kind that Mr. How
ard spoke Of because they. more than any
others, are compelled to guard against the
results that liquor causes"
The testimony Of one expert at the head
OF an institute for the treatment Of the
liquor habit, that the number Of his women
patients had increased during recent years,
has no bearing on the habits Of women Of
fashion. Az a matter Of fact, there have
been, during the past ten years, only three
cases in which women that could rightly
be placed among New York's smart set
have been criticised for drinking too much,
whether justly or unjustly 1t was not In
every case possible to tell.
One Of them went to a regular hospital
for that kind Of treatment, and as she re-
NAMED there the time necessary for a cure
It was supposed she was taking one. In
former years there was more talk Of this
kind heard about women we'll known in
society, but for at least decade only three
names have been mentioned In city gossip.
sThe increase in drinking" said the
head OF the institute visited by THE Sun
reporter, Seems to be the result in meas
ure, Of our prosperity and the resulting
growth OF the drinking on all sides. Peo-
pie go to expensive restaurants now and
order wine-usually champagne-who would
not have thought Of drinking such thing
a decade ago. They have more money now
and spend some Of 1t in that way.
Again, women find that they can order
drinks In public without causing criticism.
It was an unusual thing ten years ago to
see two women lunching together order a
cocktail. Now they think nothing Of It.
nor does anybody who sees them.
unlike the women Of the set Mr.. Howard
criticised. these women have not always
been familiar with the effects Of wine and
drinking in general. They are much NOR o
likely to 60 beyond the limit than women
who have always seen wine about them
have had 1t on their tables whether they
drink it or not, and are familiar with the
harm 1t will do them. Such women are
much less likely to 60 to extremes than
those who como to look upon drinking az
the accompaniment Of every diversion and
entertainment
That mon drink less In New York clubs
than they did some years ago is a reality
that has made intoxicated men in clubs
rather q rarity. There are, Of course,
men in every club who take too much to
drink; but they are exceptional.
One reason for this change is the fact
that men now frequent clubs in the largest
numbers before dinner. The most popular
hour in the clubs IL between S and $50,
as most men are going afterward to dinner
and they must restrain themselves.
During recent years only one man has
been discussed in New York from his habit
of becoming intoxicated in public. He
became SO notorious on that account that
he was no longer invited out, and before
his death was confirmed drunkard.
His conduct practically compelled his
young wife to retire from society, 80 great
WAS the disgust he caused. Yet il drunken
ness had become 30 common, ne would
never have been ostracised in this way.
Dinners in New York now are shorter
than they used to be, and simpler, SO far
as the wines 60. The old programme OF