The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1914-05-22

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the nineteenth century In all walks Of
BritIsh life a. compared with the very
general sobriety Of the present day.
In tho first twenty years OF her reign
inebriety was the fashion among all
classes Of the population, temperance
an abnormality. and the expression
drunk ~ . lord" NO mere ngurs Of
speech. Since 1860 intoxication has
been frowned upon BY society - bad
form and intolerabls vulgarity. and
the masses have taken their cue from
the classes In the matter.
Within . year after the accession Of
Edward VII to the crown he caused
notincation to b quietly issued to the
officers OF the navy and army that he
would feel himself Just NJ much hon
ored by their drinking his health IN
water - In wine or spirits. At the
mess dinner Of every British regiment.
save the Black Watch. and on board
every British warship the toast Of "ths
king 10 given each night Of the year.
II 10 . custom dating from the end
OF the seventeenth century. whom sym
patty for the lost Stuart cause was
Widespread and Il IVES considered nee
essary to require officers Of the army
and navy to pledge each day In this
fashion their loyalty to William and
Mary, to good Queen Anne and to the
British sovereigns Of the house Of
Hanover. Some secret adherents OF
the Stuarts used to compromise mat
tiers with their conscience By toasting
the sovereign over their finger bowl.
10 - to satisfy themselves that they
were drinking the health not only Of
the monarch in London but Of the king
over the water"-that II to say. the
exiled James II It the court Of 81.
Germain. and his son and grandson.
known ~ the Old and Young Preten-
ders. respectively. For this reason the
use Of hngerbowls was prohibited In
most naval and military messes. and
even to this day II b contrary to eti-
Quette to have them appear on the din
ner table when any member Of tho
reigning family Of England ID present.
II the Black Watch refrain from Civ
ing this daily toast Of the king" 1t
their mess dinner. II 10 because. hav-
ing been raised to tight the Stuart.
they have always claimed that thei.
loyalty to the English house Of Hano-
YER was above suspicion.
While the daily ration of grog TO the
crew 10 still continued on British war.
chips (althoush long since abandoned
In the United States navy). yet their
commanders have strict instructions
that In lieu of the double allowance OF
spirits formerly served out to the
crews when going into action. not .
drop Of alcoholic liquor. no matter
whether spirit. wine or malt, ID 81.
lowed among the officers and men
when there Is any fighting 10 be done.
In order TO slake the thirst ensen-
dered by the heat. exertion and smoke
inseparabis from . naval combat. sup
plies Of oatmeal and water for drink
Ing are arranged all over the ship.
This p. Of course. . very radical de-
parture from the former practise. But
Il b . step which has besn rendered
imperative by tho extreme Importance
Of sighting. with the utmost degree
Of exactitude. the guns. upon the pre-
cision OF which the succsss Of every
action ct sea depends. In naval On.
sasements there ID little boarding 70
b. done In these times Of ironclad war
fAss. II b no loagsr necessary to psp
PER the hull Of . mAn-of.war full OF
smAll shethOlss In order To sink
her. This can b achieved By one
single wsll-airectsd shot from any Of
The great guns with which the warship
q the prsssat day - armed. Every.
thing. therefore. aspsnAs upon The pre-
cisioa Of the gsnnsry. aad the bsllis.
Great whose every shot carries b
practically certain 10 Win the day.
Admiral Lord Charles Bsrssfoed.
whom last hers, during conversstion
with me on the subject. laid stress on
the fact that the prise gunnsss Of the
Mediterranean Asst which. vhse N.
Ger his command. nsds such . ssaao.
tioaal record IN gunasry. we're ali nsa
Who did not drink. and who were,
therefore. able 10 shoot with more pee-
cisloa than thoss whose pulss was ID
the least BIZ Quicksnsd By stimulant.
Bot total abstinsncs b merely sneouf.
assd--not enforced.
similar conditions prevail IN the
japanese navy. and whereas 10 that 1t
0rsat Britain inebristy was formerly
treated Win relative indulssncs. n b
nov punished with such great severity
= 70 PIT stop virtually y an Aeavy
lrlnhtng aDoas Ne oDeess. TAs ~.
~ - not have - b. eeapletsly -