A WORD OF CAUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 220, 10 September 1908, Page 4

A WORD OF CAUTION.

Tu tlio Editor. Sir,—Mr. Enroll, advises mo t„ read uis standard worU on the alcohol quosu'", 1 ,"," 1 ' 1 "' Jl, ' n ' s - V uf 'l'cetotalism." "ell, 1 read ll long ago, and liiivt! just looked into it again, i always like' to "hear the other side." I called it all oil bonk from memory; and so it is as to its mailer, for "a pa«c or two after tin- quotation Mr. Enroth gives Urn author says, -'All this happened more Hum forty year., ago.'' 1 crave a little space, sir, with your permission, to make a few remarks on the book-', but belore doing si) wish to assure 'Mr. Enroth that he is. quite at liberty to heap all the strong adjectives he pleases on my devoted head, or name; for over forty years in New Zealand has given me a name that he cannot blacken,and i can truly answer liim in the words of Shakespeare: "There is no terror, pissius, in your threats; for l am armed so strong in honestv. that thev pass me by as the idle wind, which I respect not." 1 did, however, expect that lie would withdraw the plain imputation that "zealots for total abstinence " were a company of would-ibe incendiaries; instead of withdrawn! we have in the second letter a reiteration of the charge. 1 will say no more on that, only reminding .your readers that a " word of caution " is needed in reading such letters. Now for this hook. First of all as to the title: if teetotalism be a heresy, then to be orthodox one must drink aleoholie liquors; so the writer would have us believe that there is a command contained, or implied, in the lii'ole: "Thou shall drink strong drink—even though il takes away your strength.'' .Now, that is an absurdity that no one would loin-ale in the twentieth century. In the same way the seicntitic and the legislative heresy of teetolalisni means that the beverage use of alcohol it required by science and legislation. Now this also is absurd, seeing that for 4011 years legislators in various lands have been trying to prevent the evil, that followso frequently the use of alcoholic beverages, and 'that for the last 51) years at least they have tried to restrict their use wherever possible. And then to call total abstinence from alcohol a '■scientific heresy" in the face oi such testimony from scientists and medical men that "there is a chronic poisoning, resulting from the use of alcohol which may never go so far as drunkenness,'' ami then the petition to the educa- . tional authorities of England declaring "that much of tin- degeneracy, disease, [ and accident . \ . . is directly or indirectly due to the use of alcohol," ' signed by 1-1,777 medical practitioners i in England and Wales; and volumes more from physicians :unl surgeons the wide world over (including New Zealand) which would take too much >f vour space even to enumerate. If it is heresy to be in such good company then let'me he a heretic'. After so much on the title I fear you will not allow me much space for the lwok itself, it is a book of 331 pages; 5(1 pages of introduction ,ISS pages of liiblo quotations ami comments (largely Old Tosta,ment), 40 pages of scientific heresies '(chiefly from I'rofessor Atwater, on the food value, as he calls it. of alcohol and in which Atwater is not fairly represented), and, lastly, there are 47 pages on prohibition in America. Now, Sir, I should like to follow the hook through these divisions, but fear your space will not allow, i just close with n word of caution: Carlyle was said to have advised everyone before reading the penny newspaper to prav for a (spirit of unbelief; well, that might be useful advice before reading this book. I know, however, of wiial 1 deem better advicc-r"l'rove all things; hold fast that which is good." Thanking you for vour patience with me, —1 am, etc., 0.11.M. [The publication of further eorr.-s----pondeti'-c on the licensing question will have to he subject to arrangement with our advertising department.—Ed.] THE TEX COMMANDMENTS. To the Editor. , Sir,—l beg to draw attention (o I lie fact that State school committer-,, I who were lo obtain copies of the Ton I Commandments to hang on the walls of each class mom of I heir schools, have found that they are unprocurable in New Zealand, and 1 respectfully suggest that school committees, acting in conjunction with other committees, urge that the Education Deparment should import at once 10,000 copies of the Decalogue; each class room to be supplied with a copy to be displayed, if the Committees approve, and scholars lo repeat the Commandments once a month.—l am. etc., INTKKF.STEU.