The New York herald., 1921-01-16

than 25 per cent. OF to-day's charges, and
did not have to worry about little supple
ments like luxury taxes
An Interesting commentary on The yaria-
ton In Partisan life is found in statistics
recently furnished to THE NEW YORK HERALD
by the National Syndicate OF Wholesale
Dealers in Wines and Liquors. These show
a notable decrease in the use OF brandles'
cognacs and in fact all strong alcoholic
drinks including Frances delectable hqueurs
This has resulted in a slight increase In the
use of wines and champagnes, but insig-
nificantly small when compared with the
German boast that the Vaterland last year
consumed 10000. 900 bottles of champagne
of more or less doubtful origin-and al
most as much 'firewater," disguised as Ger
man cognac and limitations of benedictine.
The consumption of all wines in Paris in
1920 was 5,24O,970 hectolitres. as against
a. 400 900 hectolitres in the year ending Oc-
tober, 1914. Less than per cent. of this
represents the champagne consumption.
however, the balance being the harmless red
and white table wines which are served with
every meal in France, as well as the scores
of aperitifs and higher grade Bordeaux or
Sauterne, essential to perfect digestion.
Port and Madeira are rapidly gaining a foot
hold in the French markets, but with Spain
and Portugal increasing their export duties
on wines the use OF these will not interfere
greatly with French vineyards during the
next few years
Use of the Stronger Beverages
Show Marked Decrease Since 1873
With regard to the use of stronger alco-
hoIic beverages. the Syndicate shows that
the total consumption in France in 1913 OF
1,675,OO0 hectolitres has dropped since the
war to 7ss.O0O--more than so per cent
and only about one-tenth Of this is said TO
represent Paris's consumption. The decrease
is explained by the dealers as due TO the i'm
possibility OF the average Frenchman to pay
five francs for a cocktail or highDall, which
before the war could be obtained anywhere
for one franc and frequently as cheap as
fifty centimes.
This revertaL>to the of native wines
rather than foreign strong drinks Is re-
sponsible for the remarkable infrequency
of cases OF public drunkenness. visitors con-
stantly remarking that there is less drunk
enness displayed in the streets Of Paris than
in ''bone dry New York" The prohibition
of absinthe. OF course. partially explains this,
for although numerous substitutes have
been devised for the little green god" none
OF these have either the exhilarating or
paralyzing effects OF the banned potion.
with the absence OF inebriates, the streets
have also been cleared OF the host Of beg
gars. whos5 absinthc laden breaths and un-
gracious persistence in the crowded districts
were SO Objectionable 10 Paris guests under
the regime of the Greek King OF Drinks.
This al least, Is one change In Paris life
which cannot but satisfy the American vis-
tor, whether he be a sincere prohibitionist
or merely backsiding pussyfooter.
But there is also another field wherein
satisfactory progress has been made. l. o.,
in the handling OF the city's street traffic.
raris, with its narrow streets. utterly lack
ing in any real scheme OF arrangement. has
always been one OF the worst congested of
the worlds capitals. With half a million
new inhabitants as the result OF the exodus
from the devastated regions. II was neces
cary TO Institute more extensive autobus