The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-04
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
the VICE OF NTEMPERANcE.

Lady Henry somer,st Makes Some ssrih.
ing Observations In Regard to the
Growth Of Temperance In thu United
STATISTICAL Drinking on the Decline.
Lady Henry Somerset is reported to have
remarked during her months visit to the
United States her chief surprise had been
mt the general sobriety Of the American
people, and she attributed TO it their
greater ~alertness and energy" as CON-
pared with the obviously more incorporate
people of her own country.
Inasmuch a. her associations here had
been almost wholly with women active in
the temperance movement, among whom
she is herself one Of the most conspicuous
figures. her opportunities for observation
as TO popular habits may be said to have
been partial and closely limited. but the
conclusion she reached il confirmed by
statistics Of the comparative consumption
Of alcoholic stimulants in this country and
England. Her observation as to the great,
er prevalence OF sobriety here is confirmed
also by travellers generally. in coming from
the one to the other country. The appall.
ing degradation due to gross intemperance
so observable in Liverpool and London and
the great towns OF England and Scotland
generally does not force itself on even the
casual attention in America. Rags and
tatters and Keeling drunkenness Of men
and women, SO frequently seen there, are
here almost unknown. New York may be
open to many accusations because OF Its de-
fciencics and dement's. due chiefly TO- its
still pioneer state Of development. but 1t IL
notable among the capitals Of the world
for its comparative freedom from loath.
some and d~ehumanizihg intoxication.
: A thoroughly drunken man il rarely en-:
countered in the streets OF New York, and
a drunIen woman 10 rarely that her ap-
pearance gives a shock of surprise to the
observers. So far a. the outside is con.
cerned, the liquor shops are almost univer-
sally decent aad orderly. In the vast ma.
jori,y Of them the consumption is OF lager
beer SO mild in its Intoxicating potency
that English brewers look on it as mere
Stops" OF the ''gin palaces" so frequent
and conspicuous in English cities, We have
practically none. Women OF decent ASSOC
Citations are numerous customers OF such
places in England at al hours. vieing with
the most inveterate of men topers in
their craving for gin. but here women are
never encountered at liquor bars, though
possibly representatives of the more disco
lutte among them may be found in the Sc
clusion of a back room at the family en-
trance" Of a corner saloon.
Lady Henry Somcrset's suggestion that
the greater alertness and energy OF the
American people are due to this greater
the sobriety is both a cause and i conse-
quence for the requirement for those quail
tics in the workers under the American in.
dustrial system and the whole system OF
American enterprise. Only a sober man
can keep up the pace; the incorporate Is
sure to fall by the way. Accordingly. pru.
dence in alcoholic and other artificial and
r~eacting stimulation is enforced here TO- a
greater degree than anywhere else IN the
world. A man finds out that he must Keep
all his wits about him If he expects to run
with the machine. Sobriety is an absolute
requisite in the mechanic. and throughout
all trade intemperance acts rs an insuper-
able bar to progress. Exactly how great a
part Of business failures are due TO tabits
OF Incorporate indulgence, directly or IN
directly, may not be determinable,. but It
is, undoubtedly, a very great, probably the
major part. Such habits at once bring. a
man under suspicion and affect his credit
injuriously.
We give all honor to the good women
who are allied with Lady Henry Somerset
in organized movements for the promotion
of temperance. Doubtless their moral sua-
sion has been potent to that end. But the
great temperance movement Of the present
generation has received its impulse from
the common sense OF men. They have
found out that it doesn't pay to get into
the habit of giving a loose rein to their ap,,
petite for strong drink. They have found
out that they cannot afford to get drunk:
And coincidently. social intolerance OF
drunkenness has increased. 1t is looked
on no longer as an amiable weakness, even
a virtue to be celebrated in song, but rs a
detestable exhibition. If not us a disease
which excludes the victim from considera.
ton as a sane member Of society and
makes of him a character to be distrusted.
As O consequence retreats, asylums and rel
ugcs for the confinement and medical treat
ment of inebriety as a disease are now nu-
merous and are filled with inmates. Mean.
time social drinking at bars, at dinners; at
clubs and on all occasions OF festivity has
diminished greatly.
The American sobriety which Lady henry
Somerset has observed with so much sur.
prise and qualification is chiefly a eonse'
uucnce of this common.sense attitude TO:
ward drinking. under the compulsion OF
present conditions of our life OF organized
activity. Sobriety has become q practical
necessity, and under the circumstances de-
parture from it has come to be regarded as
an evidence Of insane folly. If people want
to escape reproach, If they want to be IN
Guided among the sane. they must keep 80,
hor ~ tba America al this