The Washington times., 1905-09-10

views OF woman who has also studied
the question-studied it from a stand
point of health and hygiene. Mrs. John
B. Henderson mistress of beautiful
Henderson Boundary Castle, famous for
her vegetarian dinners and her we'll
known works on health. notably. 1.-The
Aristocracy of Health" is also an eff
cient judge. for she has not only studied
the question as relating to the Ameri-
can soldier. but investigated the sys-
tenn of canteen in the German and
British army. She claims we are way
behind England in this respect. which
comes as a partial surprise. exploding
the old notion of Tommy Atkins" and
+" Is beer and ale" Her statements are
conclusive and argue well for the non
restoration. the '.let well enough alone"
Against the Canteen.
Mrs Henderson heartily speaks her
mind Standing in her handsome study
she gave the following interview. eagert
iy explaining her views. She began with
this decided sentence:
i am not in favor OF a re-establish-
nent of the canteen. Why should we
want the tippling kind IN our army and
navy any more than in connection with
our railroad affairs. The chief depend
ence to be placed on that kind is to
MI hospital and peusion lists. Clean
blooded. sane minded men. rich in re-
serve strength. are a match for many
times their number who cannot get
along without their tipple. The bulwark
OF power Is reserve. and he who ex-
pends his reserve by the poison habit.
however small. collapses more or less
when extra strain comes upon him. The
~ hQ fnat 90 oil
upset. he is menace to discipline. and
a pernicious example. The man who
cannot defend himself cannot "a depend
ed upon to defend his country. and all
inebriates begin in the small way.
America and Russia seem to be slow
to learn the first principles OF the les
son OF hygiene. In my book The Aris-
tocracy of Health I have collected
some accounts OF England's efforts
during the last few years. to abolish
entirely the beer and spirit rations In
her army and navy. SO that now she
has over 5000 soldiers who are total
abstainers. and practically all Of her
leading officers are members OF the
army and naval total abstinence asso-
ciation. England's experiments In the
use of beer and spirits in the army and
navy are most interesting and conclu-
sive. Germany IS also getting her eyes
opened TO a new state Of affairs relat-
ing to general efficiency and reliability.
and IS strenuously epdeavoring TO re-
organize army and navy administration
on a hygienic basis.
I'm the face OF official reports demon
strating Improvement in health and dis
cipline since the abolition of the can
teen, and the awakening Of other coun-
tries to the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of the poison
habit however small, II is strange that
America Is now trying TO encourage and
respectabliZe the worst enemy Of hy-
gtene, and as for that the nation
soldiers cannot have a comfortable and
respectable grog shop set up within
their lodgings, they are bound 20 fire.
Quent worse ones outside. According
to that theory grog shop should be
set UP IN every home in America for
fear our men VIII frequent those OUT
side. Our men are no such degenerates-
If in q country OF 10000, 900 people we
! cannot get a few thousand sound men
TO compose our army and navy my
| opinion is that We had better mind our
| own business as far as international
| affairs are concerned and keep out or
| war.
| '-Of course we want our soldier boys
| to enjoy themselves. The defenders Of
the canteen think the poison habit con-
fers happiness. In reality It devital.zes
as soon as begun. destroying the ca
| cradle Of mankind is the inebriate. The
| physical sound man. whether citizen or
| soldier, wants no drug for the sake
| OF comfort or happiness. Were 1 the
mother of a soldier boy. would fear
the canteen more than bullets"