New-York tribune., 1906-07-01
TEAS REAL VALUE.
IT INCLINES TO ORDER.
Tee Drinking Peoples Generally
Temperate and Lac Abiding.


The Chinese have herb cut of which they press a
Is gse ss r fss bss f0r ana eS eeS tem 9l
all evils that the Immediate use wine doth breed
peo9sS - make 81 ss5' use It I can Sc nothinS ess
Giovanni Bofa-o, an eminent italian author. paid
this well deserved tribute the virtues OF tea In
1890 Nearly three hundred years later s. Wells
Williams 0he Middle Kingdom 1883. scribners)
wrote: III the sanitary effect OF tea upon the
system great and wholesome. its influence
since its introduction among occidentals cannot be
overlooked. The domestic quiet life and habits OF
the Chinese much OF their strength TO the con-
stant Of this beverage, for the weak infusion
which they sip allows them 10 spend all the time
they choose at the tea table II they were in the
habit OF slipping their weak whiskey in the same
way. misery, poverty. Quarrels and sickness would
take the place of thrift quiet and industry. The
general temperance seen in them is owing TO the
tea much than anything else. II has, more
over. won its way with till, in the present gen.
Grafton. the associations that cluster around the
tea table form integral part Of the social life
in English speaking places. One Of the most likely
means to restrict the use OF spirits among them Is
10 substitute the use OF warm beverages Of all
kinds By those whose system has not become
vtiated" II will be observed that the writer. un-
ike BotarO. had quarrel with wine. Like that
recognized authority, The London Lancet ne
probably would have Endorsed the use of light
wines. He points out the fact that the universal
use of by Chinese. japanese and MongOis for at
least fifteen centuries throughout their territories
has proven its satisfaction as nervine and stimu-
liant and as a beverage. II passing through
the streets OF Pelsing Canton OkOscka, and see
ing the good natured hilaFity Of the corps Of la
borers end loiferers aroiind the Cha-hwan and the
Cha-ja OF those cities doubts the value OF tea as
satisier Of human wants and harmonizer of pas
slons. It must be taken proof of his own un-
satisfied cravings
F IS 10 be wondered at that It occurred TO neither
cf these acute observers 10 phosophize TO the
extent for which the Inspiring and exhilarating
beverage should be given credit for enabling the ma
tonal spirit OF these peoples survive the deaden
ing effects OF immemorial and ironclad customs.
founded IA reverence for tradition. which II would
seem should have centuries ago made mere
automata OF them. II. indeed, they had not killed
them of entirely; for Il is the law Of nature that
peoples must rise fail-they may not stand still
May not Tea have kept these Orientals just this
side OF the apathy that results in decay and so
have aided them TO defy this law
And, II all this be reasonable. why not the
people or Lese United States making more effort to
learn and TO apply, this object lesson OF the ages?
II Is 4 curious commentary American business
aeumen. that il should slight a beverage that is
proven 10 be the cheapest; American tastes that
Iaey should not bring about the general of one
lat IS al the same time. healthful and agreeable;
and on American sociological science that il does
not give more heed 10 an agency potent in the
proEnOlon OF temperance, and for the greater oh
erVanee OF law and order While nearly all peoples
especially most OF the other English speaking ones
aLe 9Ilnklng tea increasingly. its by those of
the United Siates-which prides itself pon beina
lp-to-date in ali thingsis actually decreasing az
show: e'OA VIII