The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-07-15
TUESDAY, JULY Is, 1919.
Music AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR
WHISKEY.

! Now that prohibition is an actu-
alHy there is a large quota OF our
population seeking some sort of sub
stitute. Among this number are
those who were out-and-out vets
stayed more or less saturated all the
time-and those who believe in pro-
hibition, yet when they could get
whiskey, drank it for what it fur
nished them-stimulation. ALI sorts
Of substitutes have been suggested
and tried out, from the raisin to the
grave, via the "rotgut" route. But
the most unique, so far recorded, is
music.
It takes no far stretch of the i'm
agination to picture a "jazz" jag.
But does a bridegroom depend on
Mendelssohn' strains to dull his
senses so that he may complete the
ceremony in blissful intoxication?
If so, more consideration is shown
the poor fellow than tradition ad-
mits. Frederic J. Haskin, well known
writer, has the following to say on
the question of music as a substi-
tute for alcohol:
ut is complained that in the i'm
mediate past when the swinging door
was still a conspicuous feature of
our large cities our concert halls
were sadly devoid of male listeners.
While most of the musicians were
men, their audience were almost
completely women. Musicians them
selves will tell you that they would
have to give up their art and open
grocery stores or something if it
were not for the women of the ma
ton. Obviously, the majority of
American men share the view Of the
distinguished novelist who, upon be-
ing questioned as to what he thought
Of music, said, "Oh, see no harm in
t." N ~.
"But now the mourners of the late
John are requested to take the ques-
tion of music as a solace under ad-
visement. Why, they are asked,
have women been such ardent devo-
tees Of music? It is admitted that
there are cases which seem to point
to this conclusion. For example, the
famous singer, Malibran, was so ov-
ercome with emotion the first time
she heard Beethoven's Faith SYM
phony that she swooned, and had to
be carried out of the hall. Then there
was the case of Berlioz, who swore
that he became absolutely intoxicat-
ed upon hearing certain pieces of
music.
I'm describing his symptoms of in
toxication, he wrote: "My vital
forces seem at first to be doubled. I
feel a delicious pleasure in which.
reason has no part; my arteries pull
safe violently" Then come tears,
followed by spasmodic conditions
O. the muscles, trembling in all the
limbs, a total numbness in the feet
and hands, paralysis of the optic and
auditory nerves-vertigo- almost
swooning."
ut is suggested that music as
means of intoxication has one ad-
vantage over alcohol in that it pro-
duces no depressing after-efects. On
the other hand, the victim is rejuve-
mated and refreshed. Plato wisely
asserted that music cleansed the soul
as a bath did the body. Since Plato's
time the psychological effect of mu-
sic has been carefully studied, and
as a result music is now being intro
duced as therapeutic measure into
large number of hospitals. In the
Japanese-Russian war, the beneficial
effect of music on wounded soldiers
was noticed and studied, while in the
European war it was a common oc-
currence to have wounded men ask
for music before drink or medical
help."