Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-04-27

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addressing the Congress on the sig
nifcance of scientific temperance
instruction In public schools as a
preventive of alcoholism, said:
The thralldom of alcoholism can
be overthrown only by making the
masses intelligent In regard to the
true nature of alcohol and Its con.
sequent effect upon the human
system. This requires, FIRST thorough
investigation of the alcohl problem;
and second, the widest diffusion Of
truths thus learned. The people
of the United States, believing that
such diffusion could best be effected
through pubic school instruction,
secured between the years 1882,
and 1902 the passage of State and
national laws by which the study
of physiology and hygiene, includ-
Ing special instruction as to the
nature and effects of alcoholic
drinks and other narcotics, became
mandatory for all schools of the re-
public Temperance physiology
has thus been very generally taught
for ten or fifteen years, and 1t Is
significant that during this time
the rate ofincrease In the per capital
consumption of alcoholic liquors
has diminished materially; also.
that there has been a gain of four
and one tenths years In the average
length of life. Thorough investi-
CATION In the most populous State.
New York, show that the study Is
re stralning children from forming
alcohol and other narcotic habits
and influencing t :tr parents
against alcohol and obacco.
The teachings that have secured
these gratifying results are: First,
the nature of alcohol and Its effect
upon the human economy; and,
second, the physiological reasons
for obeying all laws Of health, since
unhyglegic habits often cause
craving tor narcotics.
Careful grading shows that the
subject can be adequately covered
by a minimum of three oral lessons
per week for ten weeks In each
primary year, and four text book
lessons per week for ten weeks In
each of the grammar years and the
first year of the high school. Thus,
with $50 lessons, a progressive
development Is attained without
crowding other branches, during
years In which the formation of
habits Is especially active. The
textbooks used by pupils of all
grades above the primary are super
vised by committee of physicians
and educators. At the headquar-
tiers OF the Department of Scientific
Temperance Instruction,in Boston,
are kept On file records of all scien'
tifc investigation of the question,
free of access to authors and others
interested.
Objection Is sometimes made to
scientific temperance instruction
on the ground that by injuring the
brewing traffic 1t will decrease the
national revenue. Figures show,
however, that every dollar of tax on
fermented and distilled liquor paid
into the natsonal treasury costs $50
In the cost of consequent crime and
poverty. The same is doubtless
true In other countries.
This Congress Is to pass no reso-
lutions, but there Is nothing to
prevent any individual from per-
sonally resolving to use his utmost
influence to secure for all the chill
dren of his own country the bless
irgs of a scientific temperance edu.
cation.
Last Friday was the regular time
for reports of Superintendent of
departments and we had hoped and
expected to have abstracts of each
for this column, but have been
hindered from doing many things
we would like to do.
The names OF the superintend.
ents of departments were given at
the beginning of the year but we
give them again for the benefit of
newcomers who may be interested
and urgently invite all new corners
who have been White Ribboners
elsewhere to come to our meetings.
The superintendent are:
L. G. L., Mrs. Hull.
S. S. Work, Mrs. Hindman.
Literature, Mrs. Clawson.
Red Letter Days, Mrs. Stanford.
Mothers Meetings, Mrs. Reynolds.
D,aec Mre Talbot