Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-06-26
France and Wine Drinking.

The reason why the wine industry in
France is so large is because there is
big money in it. 1t transpires that
this big money does not reach the
farmer in an extravagant way, but goes
into the pockets of the manufacturers
and the vendors or sellers. This class
has two divisions. The manufacturers
and big wine merchants, being wealthy,
are therefore able to enter among the
first families of the country. The at
| titude of the country endows them with
| position and influence. They occupy
the same position that the liquor deal
ers and manufacturers at one time oc-
cupied in America-because they had
money they were correct And it is
going to be a long stride for France to
gain the view of our country that il
is not the man who drinks it but the
man who makes it and sells it to his
constituencies profit who plays the
contemplate part.
it an dsells it to his conscienceless
profit who plays the contemplate part.
Then there is the vast horde OF wine
room keepers and cafe proprietors who
run down in the scale of human de-
cency in exactly the same way they
did in America. They are the recog-
nized outlaws of all rules and regula-
tions and present the lowest standard
of life in the country. 1t is around
these cafes and drinking places that
the vice life has its foundation and its
strength and it is so enormous that
this nation faces a mighty problem
for prompt attention for its safety and
strength.
The habit of wine drinking is ex-
tensive, It being the rule among all
the people rather than the exception.
True it is that there are many people
in France who do not drink wines at
all, but they are very largely in the
minority. There has grown up here
the habtude of universal drinking.
The old, the middle-aged and the young
drink wine most extensively at their
meals. But they do recognize that
water has some merits, for quite fire.
quently it is but partial glass of wine
and the remainder is water On the
tables usually will be found the wine
bottle and the water bottle side by side.
The wines OF constant and daily con-
sumption, especially with meals, are
light in alcoholic percentage, but they
have alcoholic content and even the
mldest variety-vin rouge-has suf-
fcent punch in it to give it stimulating
effect. And it is the appetite created
by long years of practice that has
bound to wine its following.
Frequently one hears of the great
age of Pierre or Jacques and with it
the comment that he lifts his half liter
per meal and before he retireS takes a
drink of something with real heft to it.
But one does not hear Of the fact that
frequently Pierre or Jacques has
stomach disorders and that doctors
thrive in France, their principal oc-
cupation being with the maladies incl
dent TO constant alcoholic force within
the body. But what is still Of great
concern is that one hears but little of
the faci that the children of Pierre and
Jacques show the effects of his con-
Stant stoking with alcohol and these
children are smaller in stature and less
rugged in physique. In some channels
this is excused by the statement that
it is tendency of the race, but in
scientific channels the real source OF
the difficulty is recognized and there is
opposition to the cause.
France today is engaged in pioneer
work. 1t seems strange that with its
centuries of life, such nation should
be merely on the threshold of achieve
ment against the country'S greatest
scourge, but it is nevertheless true.
The process Of action is wisely d.
rected, for it is recognized that the on
ly hope of any achievement rests in the
education of the people properly upon
the issue II is also recognized that
this education can not hope TO reach
the same Jacques and Pierre whose
heads are as hard as their constitu-
tions, but that their sons and daughters
are yet in that mental condition where
they will respond to an educational
program. Accordingly an extensive
educational program on the alcohol is
sue is being carried on in the schools,
especially those schools under the
State. This program is under the sane
ton, approval and supervision Of the
State. And it rests with those who
are now receiving the instruction
against alcohol along with their other
educational equipment to finally solve
the problem. 1t is the oft-expressed
hope of those leaders in public life
who are statesmen and patriotics
rather than politicians that there is the
rich promise of results through these
young people when they come into
their responsibilities OF life action.
When this time does come it means
sweeping out not only of alcohol but its
corelatonships of scheming politicians
and the artistic varieties OF protected
vice. Ii is also quite comparable here
with the great struggle in America that
the solution of the alcoholic problem
is not confined in its activities merely
to the thing itself but must reach into
the political life of the country. And
this phase is Of sufficient interest tc
call for an article in itself.