ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 327, 14 June 1911, Page 3

ALCOHOLOGY.

REMEDIES FOR THE EVIL (Published by Arrangement). That the evils resulting from the liquor habit and from the liquor trade are enormous everyone admits. Where, then, are remedies to be found?, They are as numerous as the advertised remedies for rheumatism, and, like these, have as yet failed to effect a cure: the rheumatism is still with us and so is drunkenness. The remedies proposed are in some cases drastic and others are extremely mild. Some say that THE ADVANCE OF KNOWLEDGE will effect a euro. It would if people would net on their knowledge of ascertained facts. A while ago three persons were discussing the liquor question; one was a New Zealand doctor and other two were teetotallers who were trying to bring the medico over to their side. They instanced the harm done to the general health by the use of alcoholic drinks. The doctor did not deny their facts and only said: "The people are healthy enough! What would we do if they were more healthy?" There is not much help to be got from the medical profession if that is their attitude; and they do not show much desire to help in any way in the struggle against the evils resulting from strong drink. Then some say that our •SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS will in time evolve a remedy. Thanks to a progressive Government, the schools in New Zealand are supplied with temperance wall charts from which teachers can give lessons against the beverage use of alcoholics, and many will do so; but in one certain school the teacher is a drinker. He will make fun of the subject or at best ignore it. H the schools provide a remedy it must bo set out a little more strongly than a temperance wall sheet. When inspectors examine the scholars 011 this topic in just the same way as they do the "three It's, we may expect that the facts of the matter will sink into the minds of both teachers and scholars. There is a remedy needed for the individual, and also for the nation. For the individual there is 110 remedy if he be smitten with the disease of alcoholism, as many are, but absolute total abstinence. There is a man who knows he is a victim of this evil thing and his friends know it, and he professes that he is fighting against it; but what be does is a mere makeshift, lie take-, the teetotal pledge for a year. That is no cure. One doubts the sincerity of a man who acts in that way. If it be an evil habit, theiV give it up once and for ever. Why should a' man want lo light Uic fiend —the. vilest fiend of alb-over again. We may address this evil in Bracken's words: ''What are tny crimes? Thy counsel's plea Is this: Thou'rt good, and we should pri/.o Heaven's gifts; but 1 do vi-nv in thee A cruel devil ill disguise; Before thee, peace and coin-fort fly, Replaced by senseless feud and brawl; Near thee, truth, love and honor die— Thou art the vilest field of all." The only safe way for a man such as is referred to is total abstinence. Ue ( has fought the fiend again and again—so he says—and been beaten every time. Why? iSeeause his heart was not in it.; be wants to play with it and he can't—no one can .safely play with serpents. "At the last it bitetli like a serpent."