are fitted up at an enormous expense, and decorated in the most splendid manner. In the year 1829, the erroneous notions of British legislators caused a measure to be passed for the more extensive sale of beer, which has been productive of pernicious consequences. The fact is now fully established, that the use of weaker alcoholic liquors invariably tends to create a taste for those of a stronger description. In no instance, has this fact been more powerfully shown, than in the increased drunkenness exhibited in most parts of the kingdom, as the consequence of this ill-judged and fatal act of legislation.* The inducements held out by publicans have, no doubt, contributed very much to the progress of intemperance. The vending of intoxicating liquors has never been held as respectable; and it has, in general, been conducted by persons of low, and frequently immoral character, who have resorted to most degrading means in order to increase this profitable source of emolument. Complaints, of this description, were made, even at so early a period as the reign of Edward I. (A. D. 1285.) In the statutes for the regulation of the city of London at that time, it is stated, that "divers persons do resort unto the city," some who had been banished, or who had fled from their own country, also foreigners and others, many of them suspicious characters; and "of these, some do become brokers, hostlers, and innkeepers, within the city as freely as though they were good and lawful men of the franchise of the city; and some do nothing but run up and down through the streets, more by night than by day, and are well attired in clothing and array, and have their food of delicate meats and costly: neither do they use any craft or merchandise; nor have they any lands or tenements whereof to live, nor any friend to find them; and through such persons many perils do often happen in the city." In addition to this, it was complained, that "offenders, going about by night, do commonly resort and have their meetings, and evil talk in taverns more than elsewhere, and there do seek for shelter, lying in wait and watching their time to do mischief." To do away with this grievance, taverns were not allowed to be opened for the sale of wine and ale after the tolling of the curfew. About the end of the fourteenth century, Lydgate, a priest • Parliamentary Report, 1834; also Parliamentary Discussion, 1839 and rhymer, in a poem called the "London Lyckpenny,' describes the method then used by the "taverner" to attract his customers. The youth, the hero of the poem, is descanting on his adventures as he passed through the streets of London. "The taverner took me by the sleeve, 'Sir,' saith he, 'will you our wine assay?' In the eighteenth and the present century, various means have been used to produce the same end. In the villages, in particular, games and races of diversified character have been the common inducements to drink at stated periods of the year. These are so common in the present day as to require no further illustration. In the large cities and towns every means of attraction is resorted to for the same purpose. Within a recent period a species of building has arisen, which has been appropriately termed the "Gin Palace." Many of these engines of destruction are gorgeously decorated at an expense, which would be deemed incredible if not certified on undoubted authority. Into these seductive abodes, thousands of deluded and wretched individuals enter daily, victims of a vice which must ultimately lead them to poverty and premature death. It has of late become a common practice in large towns to exhibit museums, pictures, &c., in connexion with houses for the sale of strong drink. Music in particular forms a fashionable means of attraction. In the town of Manchester, this is particularly the case. Most public houses, and many beer shops, have organs and other instruments of sound.† On Sabbath evenings these habitations of revelry are thronged with young persons of both sexes indiscriminately, and scenes not unlike the Bacchanalia of ancient Greece present themselves to shock the eye of soberness and modesty. The practice of holding clubs, combinations of workmen, and even parish and other meetings of like character at public houses, forms another very fruitful source of intemperance. In country places in particular, it is not * Strutt's "View of Manners." † In 1751, at a time when various enactments were framed to put a stop to the fearful drunkenness which prevailed at that period, an act was passed prohibiting every kind of music in public houses. This act is still in force. P uncommon to witness gross scenes of intoxication, consequent on the feasting which too often follows the transac tion of parochial affairs. On the termination of Friendly Society meetings, intemperance and broils are also commonly witnessed. Indeed it is well known that a large proportion of the hard-earned savings of the members of these charitable institutions is consumed in the purchase of inebriating liquor. The publican has thus a direct interest in the formation and continuance of these wellintentioned societies. * To detail the various meetings and societies of this kind at which intemperance is fostered and produced, would require a volume of no small extent. The customs of drinking, have, in all ages of the world, been closely associated with the usages of society. To be successful in their efforts, all institutions for the promotion of temperance, must make strenuous efforts to do away with these strongholds of sin. Public attention is already drawn to this interesting subject. * The following is an example in point. It relates to a sick club not far from the town of Preston, Lancashire: Cash collected from members during two years Music £4 18 0 £63 2 111 Colour and flying 9 10 10 Splendid bunches 4 13 5 Staves of authority 1 4 6 Sexton and other unnecessary expenses 4 10 4 Dinners! 13 16 6 CHAPTER VIII. PHYSICAL CAUSES OF INTEMPERANCE. The habitual use of Tinctures and Medicinal drams can be regarded only as a more specious and decorous mode of Intemperance. In this may be said to consist the privileged debauchery of many a nervous valetudinarian. A female of decorum and delicacy, may thus most effectually ruin her health, without in the slightest degree impairing her reputation. She may allay the qualms of the stomach, without the danger of occasioning any disagreeable qualms of conscience.-Reid on Nervous Affections. A PRINCIPAL cause of intemperance arises from the erroneous opinions which prevail concerning the enlivening, strengthening, and peculiarly invigorating properties of intoxicating liquors. Giving credence to these delusive notions, men in all ranks and conditions of life resort to them with eagerness and confidence. The plodding traveller considers alcoholic stimulus as the indispensable companion of his journeys; the labouring man views it as his cheering friend during unceasing toil and exertion; and the student-he of the midnight oil, has recourse to its exhilarating influence, during moments of mental depression and physical debility. This popular delusion has been countenanced and fostered by the fictitious and delusive names by which these liquors in general have been known. Alcohol when first discovered, was supposed from its potent properties, to be possessed with life-preserving qualities, and was in consequence called Elixir vitæ, or the Elixir of Life. Among the French, it is known by a similar name, Eau de vie. "When the common people are depressed," remarks a popular writer, "they take a dram because it is a spirit. They then conceive that they have got what they have wanted, and must of course be merry. Had it not been for the unfortunate epithet of strong being applied to beer, and the term spirit being given to brandy, people would never have guessed that ale gave them strength, or brandy created spirits.' Innumerable illustrations of the same * Jackson on the Four Ages. may delusion be found in the writings of our English dramatists and poets. Shakspeare not unfrequently makes his characters speak the prevailing notions of the times. When Boniface is told "that his ale is confounded strong, he replies, "How else should we be strong that drink it." Examples may also be adduced where the words "good" and "strong" are identified with intoxicating liquors. "Here is a pot of good double beer neighbour; drink." "Strong, lusty, London beer." SHAKSPEARE FLETCHER. error Pernicious indeed, but deeply rooted, is that which supposes, that because intoxicating liquors are (to use a popular expression) STRONG, they necessarily possess strengthening properties. Permanent vigour can alone be secured by due observance of the laws of nature, and not by violent, and consequently, unnatural, physical excitement.* Homer thus alludes to this popular fallacy : O, Hector! say what great occasion calls My son from fight, when Greece surrounds our walls, The warrior, however, refuses to taste the proffered stimulant. The experience, even of those times, acknowledges the insufficiency of strong drink, either to support the spirits under anxious depression, or to enable the human frame the better to endure fatigue. to "The strength," remarks Dr. E. Johnson, "that is, the intoxicating power of wine and ale depends upon the spirit they contain. A great deal of mischief has arisen from the misapplication of the term "strength" the intoxicating power of strong drinks." Potations are said to be strong, and hence the silly notion that they possess the power of strengthening the body. People seem to suppose that by swallowing strong drinks they actually swallow strength, as though it were some tangible substance to be chewed, swallowed, and digested like a potato. We say onions" smell strong," and we might as well expect to derive strength from smelling onions, as by drinking fluids of a strong flavour. We call them strong, be cause they affect us strongly. Whatever affects us strongly cannot be indifferent; and if it be not good, it must not only be simply injurious, but very much so."-Metropolitan Magazine. |