Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-28

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pably and patiently, often so swiftly.
that it is easy to see them go, and
none more so. perhaps. than alcohol
ISM Although the flowing bowl still
contributes intellectually to the gsyety
of nations and the pleasures of men,
there are many and no uncertain
signs that the race is evolving out
OF the stage when drink Is counted an
amusement and help.
When the lovely legends of Val
halla formed paradise there was prom.
sled the dead heroes the supreme re-
ward OF an eternal orgy Of In,
toxication blissfuIly continued with
out morning after" Public opin-
ion has Travelled so far since then
that Valhalla could be the heaven OF
only the dregs of humanity, and even
then perhaps fall a little short OF their
ideal of real happiness.
Dr. Archdaii Reid, who happily Is In
the front rank of scientific men, has
shown that in the old days drinking
bout did not interfere with the labors
of the chase, which soon effaced Its
inconvenient effects. And in the next
worked by rule of thumb methods
they still could indulge copiously
without working whit the worse
for it, The craftsman of the middle
ages needed a certain steadiness Of
hand and clarity of mind, but he hau
rd al
when he could turn to his cups for
almost unlimited debaucheries.
or course it is far different with the
twentieth century locomotive driver
Of chauffeur. The least intemperance
spells death and pain to hundreds and
big money losses to boot. That Is
why these professions are practically
purged OF inebriates. There has been
a big advance toward sobriety among
seamen, too. For the owners OF the
costly modern steamers teeming with
human lives and laden with expensive
cargoes cannot afford to take the risk
of tipsy crews.
II Is the same in all the occupa-
tions of these latter days. Every
where is delicate and costly machin-
cry which must be worked systemau-
cally and regularly, and this needs q
steady hand and a clear head. Every
where are demanded the order, the
stability, the acuteness, the foresight
which tipplers cannot supply.
II is only in belated lands like Ire
land that even farmer can imbibe
his whisky and other intoxicants in
the old way. He can do it because he
uses desperately old fashioned tools
and methods. In modern working ar
rangements the laborers are often In
doors, and they are nearly always Sc
dentary. The machine moves for them.
They need more oily their hands, and
these with much exactness, and their
minds, and those with much intelli-
gence.
While there are exceptions, to be
sure, in the unusual instances, the
hard drinkers are sunk to the lowest
levels of society, the ooze which de-
files our dainty civilization" Nine
tenths of crime is attributed to drink,
% per cent. of poorhouse inmates
trace their low estate to the bottle.
1.-The most prolific of all the causes of
pauperism" is stated by Charles Booth
to be drink Bernard Houghton, who
has made faithful researches, finds
"the general mortality due to alcohol
much exceeds the figure of ten per
cent. of the total deaths" The In
surance companies support him In
his decree which goes to indicate that
the strong. the self-respecting. the rep
resentative types of the race have
evolved out of alcoholism that the
coming race will be sober by nature.