TEMPERANCE ITEMS

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4495, 5 August 1893, Page 3

TEMPERANCE ITEMS

, liquor and Life Insurance, '•'.■' j The largosl mortality rate in the indoor occupations considered is found : among liquor-sellers, a fact which |/explains the reluotance of life-insur-ance companies to write insuranoo on i this class of risks. Mr Stovon son finds the average mortality among I,oooliquor dealersl«bo 292, increasing from 12'2 between the ages j of twenty and twenty-nine to 102 8 I from the age of seventy upward. He * (livideyhe liquor-sellers into three : hotelkeepers, aiid barkeepers,—and shows : the respective mortality rates to be, from twenty-five yoars of age upwards, 18-9, 268, and 884 which shows that tho life risk of the average barkeeper is an exceedingly hazardous quantity.

: Those who uphold the cause of temperance will be plcasod to learn that tnmfthe BOatLiOn employed on the ViotflWleet (says the Argus) mo total abstainers, or uearly so, Following out the practice of the British navy, the seamen used to bo allowed a certain qnautity of rum daily. Those who did not care for that drink took in place of their " grog" allowance a small sum of money per annum. Gradually thenumbeis of the abstainera increa°od, until nearly nil the crew

were receiving " grog money" in • stead of rum. Tho Defence Department has now decided to abolish this monetary allowance, and in lieu of it to increase the ration scalo for food and tea. If the men relapse into a preference fur a" toothfulof old Jamaica " when they are not paid ioesohew it, tbo advocates of temperance will have reason for complaint aguiiut the rigid economy ot the Defence Department.

"TenNigiiisinakrßoom."\ The Kennedy Company concluded' theirrjflejoit season in Mastcrtonj last evening, when they placed nn the boards a dramatised version of" Ten Nights iu a Bar Hoom." Long before thecurtt*ia rose, iho house was packed from end to end, anda more enthusiastic audience has seldom beun seen in theThea're Royal. The plot of the drama throughout sparkled with tragic, pathotio and amusing incidents and is without doubt one of tho best in this popular company's repertoire, The mouniing of this pieco was excellent, the Y?trious scenes being appropriate, and the table™ pretty. The» Samuel Switohel "ofMrJ. J. Kennedy was a masterpiece, and he was the typical American "ne'er do well" to perfection. Mr Frank Norton acted the difficult part of "Joe Morgan," in his usual perfect style, and the sinking ftom bad to worse through the craving for drink was admirably pourtrayed, In the pitiful scone where Joe ha* tho delirium tremens at the death-bed of his dhild, the acting was so awful and realistic that hardly a dry eye remained in tho Hall. " Simon Slade," the cheerful innkeeper, who from a respectable citizen rains himself body and soul by the influence of drink, was depicted in a life-like manner by Mr Chas, Hill, and his bright and cheery boy, who ends in killing his father with a rum bottle,/had a good cxponont in Mr W. Sedger, The ruffianly hotel loafer, •' Harvey Green," as played by Mr W. Jermyn, fell out with the audience at the outset, and for bis faithful representation jif ,Jfa character ho was frequently hooted. Mr Horace Baker, as " Willie Hammond," gave substance for a severe lesson to the young fellows who start steadily, but upon whom the drink gradually gains a demoniac grip. Mr Harry Savilln, as Mr Homaine, an interesting gentleman, who does his utmost to help the poor unfortunates, was well suited, and acted earnestly and faithfully. Miss Lily Hill, as the poor heart-broken wife of the low drunkard, played a sorrowful part well, and Little Ruby imparted a distinct impression in her cbaraoter as Mary Morgan. This little lady sang' Father, come Home' sweetly and impressively. Miss Millie Collier was in her element as" Meri table Cartwright," and by Iter spirited acting, was a thorough favourite with the audience. Her song of" M aggie Murphy's Home" was exceedingly well sung, and for an enthusiastic re-call, the pleasant little actress bad to repsat the last verse, The minor parts were all well taken, and the Company has rea3on to be proud of (ho reception they received last night.