Temperance Notes

Mr. Jenkins, the author of "Ginx's Baby," has been laying his genius under contribution in an attempt to expose some of the evils connected with strong drink, and the result, says the English Nonconformist, is not a mere goody-goody story, such as is not infrequently written on this subject, in which the amiability of the writer is more apparent than the effectiveness of his moral teaching, but the most powerful contribution which has as yet been made to the literature of the temperance party. The author, in his dedication, says: "It is a great thing done if we can get people to think about the reality, bearings, and size of an evil; and in spite of the exposures, through the press, of the dismal fruits of the traffic in drink, I find men going about, and dining comfortably, and voting steadily, in utter disregard of their fell, disastrous, and diabolical effects. I cannot acquit myself of having too long done the like. I have therefore tried to bring into one small picture a somewhat comprehensive view of these evils, in the hope of rousing some men of quiet digestion out of their apathy, and so of aiding our noble work."

The American Brewers' Association will spend $100,000 upon a star-shaped structure on the Centennial grounds in Philadelphia in which to exhibit the rise and progress of their business. In this connection the following statistics from New York City should have a prominent display. In that city there are 7,000 licensed drinking places, and 3,000 unlicensed. At these 10,000 places an average of 5,000 casks is expended per year. The annual cost of drink at these places only, amounts to $50,000,000. Of all the cases which came before the police courts last year, one-half (40,000) were cases of intoxication. These and other cases resulting directly or indirectly from drink constitute 80 per cent. of all the cases tried. There is an additional expense for jails, courts, officers, etc., that cannot be estimated. There are two things before Congress that demand immediate action. (1.) A United States Commission to inquire into the causes of crime and the connection of intoxication with it. (2.) A provision attached to the Centennial bill that not one penny shall be given to the Philadelphia Exhibition, unless the sale of intoxicating drinks is prohibited on the grounds. The sum of $50,000 has been offered for the privilege of selling beer alone. If the Centennial celebration means a great national "drunk," the sooner all decent people wash their hands of it the better. Let the grounds be closed on [...] so that no Sunday excursions can take place, and let the sale of intoxicating drinks be utterly prohibited on all days, and we can bid the Exhibition God-speed. — The Advance.

It is stated that the Henry Davis who shot and killed Charles Whyland in Chicago, last Thanksgiving day, had for some time previous abstained from liquor, but was induced to drink on that occasion by Whyland himself. If so, it shows that divine justice is not always slow. The biographies of liquor sellers would not be cheerful reading. The natural force of vengeance strikes back, not only upon the guilty tempter himself, but is liable to hit also those to whom his life ought, instead, to have proved a blessing. No man lives unto himself alone.