Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-23
AMERICANS ARE
USING ABSINTHE
Green Terror Of France Is Wei.
coined by the Busy
American.
PRODUCED in WISCONSIN
Norwood Farms Are Numerous, but
There ls Secret About Its Sue
eessful Growins-Must Leg
islate Against Il.
PRODUCED in WISCONSIN
Washington Star.

Washington Star: "Absinthe. the
green terror Of France, said a botan-
LIST OF the agricultural department, lis
now being produced in considerable
quantities in this country and is being
used to an alarming extent. In some
sections OF Wisconsin NORWOOD is
being cultivated, and 1t is from this
plant that Oil is distilled for making
absinthe. 1t is necessary to give the
cultivation of wornwood great care,
and certain age or growth must be
reached before 1t is suited for distill-
ing the oil. an oil which Is worth Its
weight in gold. Climatic changes have
resulted in making certain sections of
Wisconsin favored spots for the grow
ing of wormwood, and now there are
several wornwood farms In that state.
There Is a secret, however. in its cuti-
walton which is carefully guarded by
the pioneers and the consequence Is
that number of growers are unsuc-
cessful In raising plant that will pro-
duce the OIL The plan OF sowing the
seed broadcast has been abandoned,
and now the successful growers plant
In drills or rows. cultivating they
would corn or tobacco. II Is just before
the plant has reached maturity that 1t
as cut down and sent to the distillery,
where oil Is eNtraced by means of heat
with the exact process OF which l am
not familiar.
The Wisconsin growers of worm
wood and distilers of the oil at first
shipped nearly all their output to Eu-
rope. but now they find good market
Tor II in this country, and at almost
fabulous prices. OF course the drug
houses Of America furnish ready
home market. The oil is employed in
many ways, but its chief uses are in
the making OF absinthe and liniments.
The penetrating powers of the oil are
something Wonderful. When applied
to the surface it works its way right
to the bone, and this makes it exceed
tngly valuable in compromising strong
intments. The by-product of absin;he
Is already an awful curse. A person
under the influence of the drug expert
ences the most Pleasant dreams and
imaStnings. but, like all excuses, it
kills the gentle emotions, freezes kind
ness. rouses in man the spirit of the
beast, ana accomphshes more. vile
deeds than are dreamed OF. A large
drink of absinthe will produce insen-
sibility. commissions. dilated pupils,
sluggish pulse and other serious eff
fects-the after effect often including
trembling hands. arms and legs intense
thirst. tingling IN the ears, Illusions OF
Sigh, and hearing. ana other i.orrlfying
results. So strong hold has the use
Of aostnthe gained in France that the
government has made repeated efforts
to suppress Its sale, an undertaking
which, fear. will never be accom-
plished. Its use in America is increase
Ing every day.
This rank poison ia kept by nearly
every saloonistin every city and town.
A few drops in a glass of whisky Will
make the average drinker think and
feel that he owns half the earth, and
that another drink Of the same kind
will give him the remainder. Just q
dash of absinlhe' is what fully one half
OF the present-day drinkers, and espe-
c!ally among the upper class, will say
to the bartender when he orders a
drink. Two or three drinks with just
u.I.aese .shsinthe' will cause the
he owns II all, knows everything. wants
to hug everybody, and is the very big
gest fool in seventeen states. When
the stuff begins TO die out he is on the
verge OF good case of monkeys.
There Is no drinking schedule SO sure
OF producing itrniams in short order
as Just dash of absinthe.'
w lille our Wisconsin manufacture
ers OF the Oil which produces absin,he
are getting q very good quality, France
VIII continue TO make the best grade.
because the secrets Of its nanufactl,ra
have been known there for ages. This
secret has never found its way into the
laboratories this side of the Atlantic
and don't think 1t ever Will. All
sinthe is dangerous, green eyed fairy
and II is TO be regretted tha, Amer
leans are now able to produce the
ceat dealing stuff. Its use is growing
with Wonderful rapidly. Mark my
words, II will not be great while he.
fore national legislation against its
manufacture in thi. country viii be
asked"