A PLEA FOR ALCOHOL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2239, 13 November 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PLEA FOR ALCOHOL.

Tiik "Revue S-ieafifique " publishes a paper on alcohol and alooholisia, vrhich presents statistics and coualimon* of a .■tattling naturo. Tho author, M. Fournier de Fiaix, affirms th\t tho outcry against alcohol jh utterly unmerited, as it does fir no \zo n ,A than hnrm. To demonstrate this, M. de Flaix furnishes tabular stitemenhi to show that not ouly in tho French departments, but in all other countries the birth-rate is lower than, and tho death-rate higher whore the consumption of alcohol ii small. It is further argued from thosp figures that neither criminality nor suicide is in propoiti'm to alcoholic consumption. Iti tho Seine et Oise the entire consumption of alcohol is only just half what it is in the Seine Infe *ieure, and yet the suicide rate is doublo in the former, lv Enjjlaud more alcohol is conmi mod than iv France, and yeb in France, the writer points out, the birthrate, tho death- rate, the statistics of ci line and suicide, are leas favourable than in England. The comparisons for Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Austria and Germany show amlogous results. M dc Fluix's conclusion is that it is the nations with the most vital poweis, the greatest wealth and the bust morals who consume the most alcohol. Alcohol ho maintains to be an alimentary element, whose consumption should depend directly upon the requirements ot the climate. Our late Prime Minister, among others, is oited by 11. de Flaix in suppoit of his thesis. He says : "Mr Gladstone takes every day two glasses of cl.irot at lunch and two at dinner, with a glas3 of port wine. HU alcoholic consumption has been estimated by his son at Siivm gilloin a year, which would be three and a half times the average consumption per head in England, and four and a half times the average in Europe."

Tkmpku vnvi: pats wo xl on the fire, flour in the linlcr, \i-»uji i in the b>dy, intelliu'eiico i'm tho brain, and happiness in the whole family."

It is a pretty healthy man who cm lcilapatont in»iii(/nio ulnrin ie without mi Mealy dNcmrimr tint he is afliicte'l with about 100 of the 200 diseasfs dc>cril)pd r.herein.

Two wretched looking tramps were luonifht up liufoie a Texas justice of the peace. Addre^sin^ the worst looking one, the justice asked : " Where do you live !' ''Nowhere." "and where do you live ?" sail the justice, addressing the other. 1 I've got the room above him." — lexa Silting.

run fi st mooting of the creditors of the Lite lvm-jr of Bivana has been or.lercd to take place in Munich ou the Ist of Septemlier. The Bavarian ministry po'itely invite all persons who may have property, works of art, books, etc., that once belonged to the late King, to return them — presumably all gifts are included in thi polite request.

Hk Bkat I'HG Mud.— About four miles out of Birmingham, Ala., we came across a stretch of road about four mile 3 long which was a foot deep with red clay mud. We bad to ride our hoi&es along the edge of it, and then it; was a job to pull through. On the far side, about; fitty feet from the sohi road-bed, we came upon a coloured man with his mule and cart, tho latter loaded with wood, and stuck fast in the mud. Tho man was seated by the roadside, while the ole mule was chewing away at a heap of brush and grass winch had bean ca->t before him. "Stuck?" asked one of the party as we diew rein. " Reckon so?' was the reply. " How long you been here !" "Since yesterday." " Why don't you unload and get out?"' " Too much trouble, bo^s. Ize started fur town, an' Won't pay to go back home agin." "But what will you do?" !> Wait fur do mud to dry up, sab. She's bakin' mighty fast under diti hot mm, an' two days moro will let me fiew." Just at evening of tin 1 heoond day we saw him come into town with the load, tho mule being plastered clear to the tips of her ears. The, man rocogtii*.H us, and, bowing \erylow, he said :—" You'd got t> hey a leetle patience down in di^ ycro ooun try, boss, speshually when the mule am ob'cr 20 y'ara ole."