New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-06
IN FRANCE.
Alarming Increase ShOcR-VigOr-
GUS Cam paign Against 1t.
Paris. October 90

October 2e. by the meeting Of the first National
Anti-Alcoholic Congress in the large amphi-
theatre OF the Faculty OF Medicine. NJ. Cast
mir-Perier will preside at the opening session
and delegates from every department or France
and from every branch OF French industry viii
be represented. The object OF the congress IS.
first Of al. 20 bring together in practical work
ing shape all the temperance elements or the
country. and then the war against drunkenness
VIII begin on a scale never before undertaken IN
France. The medical authorities largely at
tribute 20 alcohol the present stationary condl-
ton OF the population. Among the prominent
men who are 20 take part i'm the temperance
campaign are President Loubet. Senator Beren-
ger. General Andre. Minister Of War; Anatole
France, Rrieux waldecL- Rousseau. General
Gallieni Professor Brouadel Eugene Rostand.
Paul Deschanel the heads OF the great railway
companies. and directors or all the leading COM
mercial and industrial establishments Object
lessons. tables. diagrams. showing at a glance
the terrific progress OF drunkenness have been
collected. and some OF the pictures and diagrams
are 20 be sent 10 the French sanitary section
OF the St Louis Exhibition. The sittinSs or the
congress viii be enlivened by theatrical per-
rormances by favorite Partisan actors and ac-
tresses Of Curriers' the temperance drama Of
the late Eugene Manuel and OF the fourth act
% Zola's 'L'Assommor." in which the horrors
Of drunkenness are set forth in realistic pro-
portions
The latest report on the consumption OF al
oohol in France has placed some startling fig
ures before the public. Whereas in the last
fifty years the population Of the country has
increased only in the proportion OF leo to ll2,
the consumption OF alcohol has risen from 100
to 355. In 1880 each inhabitsnt consumed an
nually 6 80 litres; in 1900 this amount had risen
10 1921 lltres
While in France the consumption OF alcohol
has thus been steadily increasing. in other coun-
tries formerly far in advance Of France In this
particular II has as steadily decreased. II 1879
in Sweden each habitant consumed annually
23:S5 litres OF pure alcohol; in 1900 this figure
had fallen 10 49, In Finland, in 1850. 20 Iitres
we're consumed annually 10 the inhabitant; IN
1909 tie amount had fallen to :. IN England
the decrease is less striking; still. an improve
ment is shown there also. From 10 litres in 1873.
the average had fallen TO S.91 in 1896. In the
United States according TO the figures prepared
for this congress. scarcely any alteration has
taken place since 1910. In that year the amount
OF annual consumption TO the individual was
5.l5 litres; IN 1900 it DIS.
comparison OF these figures shows that
France heads the list the largest consumer
OF alcohol in the world or all the cities IN the
country. it is in Paris that the average is high
est to the individual. The consumption through
out the country to the individual is annually
40 litres Of Win ordnaire and % OF liqueurs. A
Partisan, however, consumes 26S htTes OF vim
ordinaire and d OF lqueurs.
one Of the causes Of this increasing alcohol
ism in France is the privilege granted to the
private small distillers. These persons Cbouil-
leurs de cruz pay their work people partly in
kind by giving them so many litres of a cheap
spirit distilled from apples pears and the refuse
Of grapes from the watts, which is Infinitely
he he A tendency
10 drink is thus fostered in all the country dis
tricts. This cheap spirit is also supplied in
large quantities 10 the fishing fleets where the
same practice obtains OF paying part Of the
wages in alcohol. few owners have shown
themselves sufficiently disinterested TO depart
from this pernicious custom by substituting oof-
Zee or tea but the ravages Of intemperance
among the fishing ports OF the Atlantic and
Channel coasts have become seriously alarming.
The men bring their drinking habit home with
them, and il spreads among their wives with
incredible rapidity. In Normandy and Brittany
drunkenness IS common among the women.
and even the children, as among the men. on
their way to school in the morning the children
soak their bread in glass OF cider brandy TO
nerve themselves for their days work Under
such conditions Il is not surprising that in these
two provinces the amount Of crime has doubled
IN the last thirty years and suicide in the last
The French authorities consider that Sweden
has set an example 70 all other nations by her
struggle with this fearful scourge. In the early
years OF the nineteenth century drunkenness
had reached such point in that country that,
the great DIR. Huss pointed out unless it
could be speedily checked. the race was doomed.
The government Immediately adopted extremely
rigorous measures. In 1850 there were 1900
distilleries throughout the country, Of which all
but 800 were closed. and 10 every commune was
given the right TO refuse a license for the re-
tail sale OF alcohol. These proceedings were
naturally unpopular and at one time public dis
content threatened to take the form of a revolu-
tion. The King, however, was firm, and the
country saved. In the course Of seventy
years the population has increased by one-half
and the consumption Of alcohol to "A head has
fallen from % ljtres in 1890 10 $50 litres in
1890, ana 3.42 in 1895. At the present moment.
however, this figure has risen to 4Si, thanks to
the popularizstion OF beer: but the Swedish Gov
eminent is preparing TO neutralize this new de-
velopment by aiming blow at the manufacture
Of the article NJ Eugene Rostand Is in favor
Of applying these drastic Swedish measures in
France
Unless the government Of France comes speed
ily 60 the rescue by imposirg some kind Of pro-
hibtive legislation II win End itself in tho near
future confronted by very serious problem. the
result Of this steady sappng OF the strength OF
the race by the drink curse. Already the num-
Der OF oonscripts annually recruited is diminish
ing steadily, and the physique Of the men is
degenerating at the same time In 1873 per
cent Of the recruits were physically disqualified
from serving with the colors; in 1893 q per
cent were thus refused In the Department az
The Eure alone the proportion sent I'D for mill
tary service in 1875 was % Der cent. IN 1Sqa