The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-10-21
Alcoholic Drink.

1he great increase IN the cOnsump-
tlon of alcoholic liquors in France. in
recent years, has alarmed some Of the
public men of the Republic who have
taken unusual measures TO instruct
the people with regard to the injuri-
Gus and dangerous effects of indul-
gence in such beverages. The matter
was started by NJ. Mesureur, the head
OF the board Of public charities, who
prepared large pictorial poster show
ing, side by side, healthy heart and
an alcoholic heart, healthy liver and
an alcoholic liver, like contrasted
lungs, brains, kidneys, tissues, etc.,
with fuil.lcngth portrait of con-
firmed and demented drinker, group
OF children Of drunkards, and state
mcnts of the effects of wines and of
their continuous use. The chart is a
very striking one, and when copies of
1T were posted throughout Paris they
produced great sensation.
1t might not be bad plan to have
them put up all over this Republic as
we'll. They cannot do any harm, and
might Go much good. They are strue
to the facts, highly educational, and
the lesson they teach is presented 50
simply and plainly that he that run
meth, aud even he that staggereth,
may read. And there is good ground
for the belief that there is too much
drinking of alcohol in this Republic
also for the good Of it's people
According to the American Grocer,
an accepted authority on the subject,
the consumption of alcoh olic bever-
ages in this country has nearly dou-
bled since 1880, having increased
from 1908 gallons per capita, to 10. .49
gallons, gain of over SO per cent.
The use of coffee has increased only
o2 per cent. in the same time, and the
use of tea has decreased nearly 4S per
cent. Our bill for alcoholic drinks
last year was over thousand million
dollars, or, to be exact, was 81 ,172,-
800, 600. Our coffee bill for the same
year was s149, 1891, 900. Our tea bill
was $39, 9,642, 900. We drank 1881
$4,000 gallons of "beer," and 157,-
2O6,5OO gallons of "spirits and wines"
Assuming that one person in four
drinks some form of alcoholic bever.
age, the average expenditure of the
drinkers for the year was $685., or
19 cents day.
The facts suggest various interest
ing reflections. Our liquor bill it is
seen, averages nearly $40 per family,
which would pay the cost of educat-
ing all the children of the country.
The consumption, beer included, is
nearly 100 gallons per family. When
it is considered that the drinking is
usually done by one member of the
family only-the head of it, of course
and that large proportion of the
heads do not drink, it is seen that the
indulgence approaches the line of ex-
cess. When it is further considered
that few of the country people-who
make up half the population-ever
taste beer, and that nearly the whole
urban negro population are practically
strangers to it, it appears again what
an enormous average must be assigned
to the actual drinkers of the bever-
age, a small proportion Of the white
residents of the cities and towns. We
consumed 1881, ,875, 900 gallons of it
last year. Ii it is safe to assume that
the habitual drinkers do not number
over . 1000, 900, or one in fifteen Of the |
whole population, the average is
276 gallons-or FIVE gallons per week.
On the same basis of calculation the
average for the actual drinkers of |
spirits and wines (total, 1926, 500 |
gallons,) is 30 gallons annually. |
Whether the exhibit explains the in
crease in crimes of violence iniparts of |
the country, We cannot say, but it is !
suggestive In any view of it.. So orreat |
of strong drink cannot
be good for the bodies and minds of |
the consumers, and it might be ad- |
visable for the authorities and tenn
perance people to set up and keep up
some Of NJ. Mesureur's eloquent; pos
ters in all the cities and towns at leas &.
News and Courier t'aG iAai,}aiS:l