The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-04
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SOCIAL DRINKING BY WOMEN
An Awful Charge and an Appeal by
Rev. DT. Madison c.
Peters.

u puolc places, especially IN the large
cities, Is a matter Of common obserya-
ton, and scenes that shocked US 20
years ago ara now passed by without
Comment Indeed 50 common Is the
drinking among women in our large
cities that the situation is often a
source OF embarrassment 70 the w0m-
an wa0 does not drink.
The disastrous results Of tipDling
among womsn are already too well
known 70 TIE physicians. and expe-
+ rience shows that while men who
drink often reform women who become
victims to drink. are more intractable
70 reformation.
The medical director Of one Of New
Iork's leading Institutions for nervous
and mental diseases recently wrote to
me as follows: The medical profes-
sion knows only too we'll the increasing
tendency 10 tippling among society
women and its disastrous results.
Fully 70 per cent OF the drug cases
among women come OF first using al
ooholic stimulants; 0yerindulgence Of
fashionable dinners, or other social
functions, creates the necessity for the
quick recovery from the induced de-
bauch; morphine or sOmethir.z OF a
like nature is taken, the inevitable
consequences are an increased neces-
sity for stimulants and a repetition OF
the drug, increased nervousness and
mental degradation follow Once a
woman acquires a taste for stlmulants
she ls In a large degree a hopeless
wreck. Especially is this true in the
higher circles where sentiment leads
and society sanctions"
Mas ideal OF what woman ought to
be is based upon his conception Of
what she normally is-higher and bet
ter than himself His own sinful and
selfish desires are the main factors in
dragging woman down from the ped.
estal upon which he himself has placed
her, and yet with his strange incon-
sistency he will idolize her if she re-
sists.
If by common consent sin seems
blackest in woman than in man, II is
because she Is By nature purer and
has farther TO fall.
II seem 70 condemn sin in the
woman more than in the man, am for
that reason paying TO woman the high
est and best compliment.
Insoxicants are dangerous enough to
men, 70 women they are much more
so. ROmuius sentenced women to
death for intoxication as the beginning
Of unfsithfulness to the marriage
vow.
The virtue OF the woman with the
drink habit Is always in danger.
The effect OF alcohol upon woman's
viii power and sense Of moral respon-
sibllity are even more marked than In
the man. woman's emotional organ
ization being so much more susceptible
than that Of man.
Any ordinary observer must have
noticed In the brilliant cafes of our
cities that most women drink as free
ly ami as frequently as their male
companions
Twenty years ago II you took
woman TO a place Of amusement. you
might ask her afterward II she would
have an ice creain, but now you take
her to a restaurant and before you
ask her If she wants anything to eat,
you say to the waiter: Two Man
hattans. please"
But what may be seen in festive az
semDlies in public places is nothing
in comparison with what may be seen
in private parlors by those who mingle
freely in society. / have seen at such
times womans eyes sparkle with an
unwonted fire and the gayest Of her
merriment was something more than
the natural glow Of her own spirits.
Since fashion is only another term
for public sentiment contend that
were the higher clal ses Of society to
discontinue the moderate Use Of drink.
the effect would be to render drinking
unfashionable.
know how tyrannical fashion is,
and that there are many persons who
would rather be out Of the world than
out OF the fashion. but improbable as
may be the success in changing the
custom Of society by your emphatic
protest. the improbability Of your sue
cess is no reason for being silent. n
you attempt nothing you will accom-
plish nothing
Social usages can be more easily /
changed than at first supposed. II only /
a small number Of women IN every 4
community Of those who are raised By I
their wealth and social standing above /
the accusation Of meanness, and BY 4
their courageCusly standing above the /
suspicion 20 dreadful to endure, Of be-
ing unfashionable-if only one or two
families in each community were to /
take such stand, there would be
many to follow. and a year would
show great improvement
It Is woman's influence to which we
must look tor the change required. II
woman really wishes to change the
custom, It viii be accomplished.
Insane in Scotland.
Mr.. Arthur shervell. in his Drink
Peril In Scotland, has a chapter on
the nrrwfh of afr~hoIsr fm~~~.ss.. -