The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

fame. and who is still regarded to this day as a past master on all questions of international policy. driven out of office and forced to retire not only from the councils of the sover- eign and from court but even from public life owing to his discrimination in divorce case that in previous reighs would have been looked upon as constituting a feather in his cap And society in this instance as in many others took it's cue from the queen and was influ- enced to such an extent by her example that 1t closed It's doors against the culprit and sub jected him, until her death, to the most severe kind of ostracism
 Nor is it necessary to make more than pass ing reference to the downfall of Parnell, when at the height of his fame, and when he prac- tically dominated the political situation in Great Britain. his appearance in the divorce court in the character of a correspondent, was sufficient to bring about his overthrow at the moment when he seemed to have reached the goal of his ambition. and leader of the Ma tionalists was treating with William E. Glad stone then premier, from power to power Not voice was raised in his behalf even by devoted to him. and the fact that his connec- tion with the matrimonial differences of Cap tain and Mrs. o'Shea should have been re- garded as rendering impossible his continuance at the head of the Irish Party. and as pleni- potentlary in the negotiations with the Gov ernment. speaks volumes for the altered tone of English society and for the different stan- dard of morality from that which prevailed at
 
 toria, to whose social influence this change for the better was entirely due.
 King Makes Drunkenness Bad Form.
 As far King Edward is concerned the in- nuence which he commenced to exercise upon English life from the moment when shortly after his marriage just forty years ago. he was tntrusted by his widowed mother with the task or representing the crown in it's relations with society and public life. has likewise proved or beneficial character fin spite of all that . In-A AranR oNsb in The North American Review The cause of temperance in particular owes to the king a deep debt of gratitude. Up to the time when ne may be said to have commenced his social reign. heavy drinking at dinner after the la- dies had left the table was the invariable rule in England, and the phrase 'as drunk as A lord' was considered a term, not of reproach. but of praise. lnebriety was not looked upon respect or consideration as accorded by society to the man who could not dispose of the tra- ditional three bottles at Q sitting
 Of course the example thus set by the classes was followed and adopted in still more in- tensifed degree by the masses, the only dIf- ference consisting in the character and ouaIitv of the liquor. Indeed during the eariv nortion of the reign of Queen Victoria the dr,ynkan ness in Great Britain was something perfectly appalling. The marked decline of that vice which was formerly regarded as a peculiarlv English falling. is due to King Edward It ia wholly owing to his social influence that hard Uhklns ls no longer fashionable, and as in everything else. SO also in this, the masses have followed fin the steps of the clasEea Drunkenness is now regarded as being had form in the banqueting halls of the peer as well as in the back parlor of the small shop- keeper. in the smoking room of the c--ck London clubs, as well as in the cafe or bar- room of the suburban pub Of ginmill Swear ing and coarse language. too. have zone out of fashion. Neither lord nor commoner deems 1t necessary any longer to preface every re- mark with an oath or to interiard each sen- tence with blood curdling blasphemy. This change for the better is. like the decrease fin hard drinking, attributable to the social in. huenee of King Edward.
 -~-tss Cnurcngoing Popular.
 One of the best features Of the English ueo- plel is the respect which nowadays they one and all manifest towards the ordinances of the church. IL may be that there is more conven- tionality than religion in the attitude of many of them But be the motives and causes what they may, the result achieved is an excellent one. For regular attendance at church Is cer- tain to exercise an influence more beneficial than injurious. and the moral tone of the na- tion. which has been brought by its social au- tocrat Co look upon it as sine qua non of re- spectability, cannot be considered otherwise than healthy in the extreme. This churchgO- ing is but another instance of the usefulness of King Edwards influence. He makes 1t q point never to miss putting In an appearance at church every Sunday. The ciasses have scrup- ulonsly followed his example in the matter, and so. too have the masses.
 Much more might be written of the excellent results achieved by means of his influence among which should be mentioned the altered sentiments Of both classes end masses In Eng land With regard to the[Jews. If the latter