Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Or The Causes Of The Decay Of Our National Morality, And On Some Modern Schemes For Its Renovation.
one danger of that genial indulgence , which men of the world do not scruple openly to advocate . The capability of drinking just so much , and no more , than produces the first step towards excitement , is the mark of a firm and free man : he who cannot command himself at this point is comparatively a slave ; but men in general have not this command by a mere voluntary effort , and the temperance of certain classes
of society , is materially owing to the fortuitous influence of fashion . The mode in which fashion has imposed these restraints is by adding several other kinds- of amusements to the pleasures of the bottle ; and by regulating the season of enjoyment and the species of beverage , she has restricted the time for the consumption of strong drink to a late period in the day ; she has established wine as a genteeler beverage than
spirits , and thus has secured , what we shall presently show to be of the first importance , the dilution of the intoxicating principle ; but , above all , she has checked the allurements of the bottle by the amusement of gaming , and the enchantment of female society and music . The drawing room is what has redeemed the gentlemen of this country from their once debased condition of hard drinkers glorying in their shame ; but
can they pride their own morality much on the change ? Is it to be boasted of , as an effort , that we leave the table to listen to the enrapturing voice of the Italian Donna , or to the magical effects of instruments touched by Orphean hands , or to enjoy what is far sweeter , purer , wiser , gayer and holier than aught else that can be imagined , the conversation of an English lady ? Long may that name continue to represent the perfect union of brilliant and varied accomplishments , with refined taste , pure thoughts , and simple maimers , which at present constitute the character !
Fortified in the course of propriety by such inducements as these , how can our English nobility and gentry speak of the drunkenness of the lower orders in a severe and contemptuous tone ? What amusement is there for any man in England who has not the means of going to a play or entertaining company , except drinking ? He must have some leisure ; with leisure he will seek for enjoyment : —drinking is an
enjoyment ; and being the only one in his reach , he will revel in it as surely as the grass grows upwards . But it will be said , that such artificial excitements cannot be necessary to sobriety , or how did this exist in former times without them ? We reply , because formerly there was at least the pleasures of domestic society ; the farmer sat at the head of his long oak table , his wife , his sonsand daughtersall
assist-, , ants in his business , around him . At the same board sat the labourers and the dairy maids , & c . —they ate bacon , aud drank ale ; and the evening , after labour was over , was spent in those amusements aud recreations which naturally suggested themselves in every large family . It is obvious that here a society must be formed , and that this must
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Or The Causes Of The Decay Of Our National Morality, And On Some Modern Schemes For Its Renovation.
one danger of that genial indulgence , which men of the world do not scruple openly to advocate . The capability of drinking just so much , and no more , than produces the first step towards excitement , is the mark of a firm and free man : he who cannot command himself at this point is comparatively a slave ; but men in general have not this command by a mere voluntary effort , and the temperance of certain classes
of society , is materially owing to the fortuitous influence of fashion . The mode in which fashion has imposed these restraints is by adding several other kinds- of amusements to the pleasures of the bottle ; and by regulating the season of enjoyment and the species of beverage , she has restricted the time for the consumption of strong drink to a late period in the day ; she has established wine as a genteeler beverage than
spirits , and thus has secured , what we shall presently show to be of the first importance , the dilution of the intoxicating principle ; but , above all , she has checked the allurements of the bottle by the amusement of gaming , and the enchantment of female society and music . The drawing room is what has redeemed the gentlemen of this country from their once debased condition of hard drinkers glorying in their shame ; but
can they pride their own morality much on the change ? Is it to be boasted of , as an effort , that we leave the table to listen to the enrapturing voice of the Italian Donna , or to the magical effects of instruments touched by Orphean hands , or to enjoy what is far sweeter , purer , wiser , gayer and holier than aught else that can be imagined , the conversation of an English lady ? Long may that name continue to represent the perfect union of brilliant and varied accomplishments , with refined taste , pure thoughts , and simple maimers , which at present constitute the character !
Fortified in the course of propriety by such inducements as these , how can our English nobility and gentry speak of the drunkenness of the lower orders in a severe and contemptuous tone ? What amusement is there for any man in England who has not the means of going to a play or entertaining company , except drinking ? He must have some leisure ; with leisure he will seek for enjoyment : —drinking is an
enjoyment ; and being the only one in his reach , he will revel in it as surely as the grass grows upwards . But it will be said , that such artificial excitements cannot be necessary to sobriety , or how did this exist in former times without them ? We reply , because formerly there was at least the pleasures of domestic society ; the farmer sat at the head of his long oak table , his wife , his sonsand daughtersall
assist-, , ants in his business , around him . At the same board sat the labourers and the dairy maids , & c . —they ate bacon , aud drank ale ; and the evening , after labour was over , was spent in those amusements aud recreations which naturally suggested themselves in every large family . It is obvious that here a society must be formed , and that this must