The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-07

II you compare our American CIV
ton 10 a pie, II may be truthfully said
that the middle of the pie is IN
very wholesome condition, but
good part OF the top crust has been
soaked in cocktails and cham payne
while the bottom crust has been soggy
with beer.
A Philadelphia society woman, Mrs.
Joseph NJ. Gazzan has recently made
quite stir by seeking to arouse the
Islumbertng condolences OF other so
edety women TO the danger from social
drinking. The reporter OF the Phila-
Ad elphia North American reports Mrs.
0azzan1 as saying. IN explanation OF
her interest:
My chief concern today 10 for the
young men Ard women. the boys and
girls, who Will be the future defenders
OF our country. We must give them
high ideals. strong heads. straight
seeing eyes We cannot let them
frtttsr away strength. physical and
moral. drinking cocktails and smoking
cigarets.
I would not dare to give O drink
to any of the boys or girls who come
TO my house. I would be afraid OF
what might be awakening. OF what
I might be paving the way for. We
have no right to put our girls IN the
position OF having to refuse drinks
when they 40 out to take their places
In society. They como to us from
their finishing schools and colleges
| fresh and eager and excited with
life. and in the flush of 1t ali they are
likely to do what others do. unless
they have been warned and unless
they have unusually strong characters
and high ideals.
We arc criminal to put the ohofcs
OF being temperate or Incorporate up
70 such young people. and we have
no right 10 expect them TO Withstand
tenn ptation when they SEQ older per-
sons on all sides OF them guccumbing.
How are the boys to be prepared
to defend the country II they are
forming drinking habfts7 How can
they make good doctors. good execu-
tiveA good business men X We let
them impair their faculties when
they are young? And how can we
expect the girls to mako good nurses,
good hospital administrators, and
able to do the home work. Il there
10 war. II we encourage them 10
drink and smoke now? Sobriety IL
tho fundamental OF preparedness. and
the only safe and sane way to SO
briefly IL total abstinence. You would
be surprised how manv men and
women who have been accustomed to
drinking think this way and have
stopped. AZ have said before they
are simply waiting for some one to
show them the way to temperance.
! Since the meeting at my house, I
have received innumerable letters COM
intending the move and expressing the
wish that It will not be abandoned.
Ono letter has especially interested
me. It came from tho head OF 4 big
reformatory for girls. and the mes
rage Il bore showed me like a flash
the society woman's responsibility for
the morals of the working girls. The
head OF this institution wrote that
she was glad TO hear of the meeting,
al It will help her in her work The
+, girls who are brought to her for
various offenses always answer when
she tells them they should not drink.
why shouldn't drink? Don't the
society women do it?'
My interest In this temperance
movement dates some six years back.
have a young daughter in society.
ard two boys In college. and do not
want to have them brought In con-
tact with any more temptations than
are necessary and I want to rouse 9TH
er women to feel the same.
Let the good work go on improving
both crusts OF the pie.