The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-17
Missionaries Of a New Cult
Spreading Propaganda.
TO ABOLISH ALL TREATING.
An Assault 10 Be Made on the American
Habit Of Setting Them Up at
Times and Places.

New York Feb. 16.--Emissaries OF the
cemi-Teetotal association OF England ar
rived here last week on the tank steamer
Tappit Hen. and they are now spreading
the propaganda OF the new cult through
out the city They wear on the lapels OF
their coats light blue buttons. on the
rims of which are the words, mo drinks
between meals"
In the centre Is a pewter mug crossed
by a knife and fork. The members OF
the association. which already has a wide
vogue in England. take a pledge. which
Is styled by them solemn undertake
Ing" never TO take intoxicating drinks
except at the midday and evening meals.
Richard Turner Dalton, the secretary
OF the English organization. is at the
waldorf-Astoria. where he was found
last evening.
THE aims Of the society which 7 repre-
sent" said he. ''have been much mis-
understood. / see no cause for merri-
ment in the name which is an entirely
respectable one, and. II may be forgiven
a little family pride, II is one which my
kinsman Richard Turner suggested with
great deliberation.
He suffered in a most painful fashion.
and at a meeting in the cause OF total
abstinence he attempted 10 refer TO him
self as tota!er. meaning thereby one
who did not drink intoxicants. His in
firmity caused him to duplicate the first
t. Hence the name teetotaler. IL
teetotaler Is a man who does not drink
any liquors at all, a semt-teetotaler is one
who takes a solemn pledge never to drink
under any circumstances. adding~ thereto
the mental reservation that he will drink
all he feels like at his meals
Evidences that the "semis' have been
making a canvass OF the city was found
at manySof the leading hotels. The ap-
pearance OF one of the semi teetotalers a
the Marlborough hotel last Saturday
morning nearly occasioned a riot in the
cafe where a score OF Southern colonels
were standing before the bar waiting for
cocktails
II is reported that the semi-teetotalers
will ally themselves in this country with
organizations with similar aims and that
an auxiliary society may be formed in a
few days.
1T find," said Mr. Dalton. that several
prominent gentlemen with whom / have
talked have taken most kindly TO our
plan. They spend perhaps more time
| now at their luncheon and dinner than
| the circumstances warrant, yet We are
| making steps in the right direction. 1t
| often happens that they prolong the
luncheon to the dinner hour. taking, OF
| course. such drinks as aid in the diges-
| tion OF food.
lone OF them. a somewhat rotund per-
| son whom l see here, suggests that a
| rival organization, with the motto. No
meals between drinks would be more in
| accordance with American ideas but I
| think he will perceive before he drinks
| himself to death that he is In grave error.
| The organization which have the honor
! 10 represent bases its principles rather on
| physiological than moral grounds. for a
| little spirit taken with meals increases
| the peristaltic action of the stomach and
| consequently promotes the health OF the
| semi -teetotaler. have every hope that
our association will in time become pop
| MAR"