Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-27

the words that open this interview.
1T seems pity" she goes on, her
eyes of a transparent brown, like pools
in October woods, wide and earnest,
for a frank and honest Nation to
have its fine progress stayed by dis
pute that divides it into bitter factions
and by law that is ridiculed and
f1outed.'
Says Law Is Eidiculed.
We told Nine. Gabrilowitsch we had
been assured by many that prohibition
has decreased drinking. She looked
surprised:
but where-hOw? | am not a so.
ciety woman, but / have many OPP
portunities to see the life and homes
of the cultured, and it is the same
everywhere-a disregard of the law
general jokes poked at 1t, and the
bootlegger in high repute as a bene-
factor of the community!
"Highbred Europeans, in sincere
puzzlement, ask why we have such a
law, and. If it is the majority's will.
why do we break it? One may an
swer that the majority do not break
it. but can this be proven? So far as
can see, no one pays attention to the
eighteenth amendment except those
who never care for drinking anyway.
Facts are practically impossible to
get Both the drys and the vets pre-
sent and distort fact until they prove
nothing. 1t is like the Bible in that
you can find anything you want in it
justification of war and of drinking,
of total abstinence and Of peace.
Thinks Wine Has Benefits.
Gin this matter of the eighteenth
amendment, all we really have to rely
on is opinion. If mine is worth any
thing. / would say that wine used in.
diligently Is one Of the earth's good
things. 1t tends, in many tempera-
ments. to bring out the best"
We suggested the argument that
because liquor is sometimes misused
it would be wrong to permit wine and
beer, as they would open the way to
hard drink, and that everybody should
abstain from all alcohol for the COM
mon good.
why not" argued Mark Twain's
daughter abstain from beefsteaks
because so many people eat too much
red meat? And from pies, pork and
potatoes because they fatteh. and thou
sands die each year from diseases
brought on by adipose tissue?"
When people are affected by al
cohol they annoy and endanger
others" we offered.
"Are there not laws to take care of
those who interfere with their neigh
bors' rights?" she replied. MEAN
while, if a tiny part of the money
yainly spent in trying to enforce pro-
hibition were used in educating young
moral, of alcohol, we would soon have
nationwide temperance-which we
shall never have under prohibition"
Suggests Changes I'm Law.
Chow would you have the law
changed?"
| II think IL the manufacture of pure
wine was undertaken by the Govern.
ment and the product controlled in
price, quantity and hours Of sale, peo'
pie would gladly give up strong
| liquors and turn in relief to light bev.
erages that they knew were of quail.
ity.
"It is the tendency of the age to be
intelligent in matters of health. We
eat less than we used to, having learn
| ed the evils Of gormandizing; we are
| more clearly, more sensible in dress
| in living conditions and in hygiene
generally. We would never return to
oldtime habits of drunkenness if the
ban Of thou shalt not were removed
ITO me it Is unfair to compare laws
against murder. larceny. arson. big
amy, ETC., with laws which forbid all
| drinking. It is unfair to the American
people to assume they cannot develop
| enough character to meet the impor
tant problems of life. Habits that are
held off through fear of punishment
and not from an understanding Of good
and bad. right and wrong, are not
| eradicated; they are only exaggerated