Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.

public-house as at present existing , with that sink of all iniquity—the tap-roomfrom the face of the land . For is it not there that the lewd song and indecent jest is heard 1 Is it not there that the poaching raid is planned 1 Is it not thence that , maddened with drink , men turn out to fight , and one is carried to the grave , the other to the felon ' s cell ? Is it not there

that the stuff is vended that excites , not quenches , the thirst , and drains the hapless victim ' s pocket ? Is it not there , again , that the wage is swallowed up , which spent , the wife , and the child go naked and hungry ] Is it not there that is born and nurtured vice , want , crime , ruin , madness ,

and despair ? Places of refreshment and rest , however , for the traveller there must be ; so must there also places where alcoholic beverages of tested purity shall be sold to the regular customer . Let vendors of liquor then be of two kinds ; the keeper of the house of refreshment for travellers — the true

"licensed victualler , and the simple retailei of beer , wine , & c . The former houses might be of recognized classes or grades to suit the various social positions and means of customers , just as are the refreshment-rooms at the larger railway-stations . Let these be

subject to inspection to insure that none but bona-fide occupants of the house , or travellers , are served—and none of these in excess . Iu these houses , too , this further rule should be strictly carried out , that no liquor should on any pretence

( unless the sudden emergency of illness ) be served to any customer who did not at the same time partake of solid food ; this rule , it might be urged , would infringe too much on the liberty of the subject , to which we would reply that the restraintbeing onl

, y of a temporary nature , and being besides as good for the health of the individual ( drinking between meals being undoubtedly a most injurious practice ) as for the wellbeing of society at large , mi ght cheerfull y be borne .

The latter division of vendors , should possess a license to sell over the counter only , so that all inhabitants of the place should be compelled to carry their purchases home for consumption ; to this latter class , too , should be appointed inspectors , who should see this provision carried out , as well

as insure that the liquor sold should be perfectly pure and unadulterated , and of a stated strength . * The number of vendors in both classes should be strictly regulated in proportion to area and population , care being exercised

that this proportion should be so determined that a fair living could be made without resort being had to adulteration , or a so-called " pushing " trade ; for it is quite evident that the holders of publichouses in neighbourhoods where they are

much in excess of the actual requirements of the people cannot possibly obtain a livelihood unless they break the law , even as it stands at present , either by drugging their liquor which has been previously diminished in strength by being increased in quantity , or by forcing more drink upon their customers thau they would otherwise

consume . Congregating for the express purpose of drinking on the premises of those to whose interest it is that the greatest possible amount of liquor should be consumed , and the greatest possible profit made of this quantity , being thus done away ; whilst the people have been educated to seek in other and more rational directions for amusement than in mere drinking : for

clrinking ' s sake ; there can be no doubt that , whilst society at large is left to use and enjoy those good gifts with which God has blessed it , the abuse of them would soon be a thing of the past , and that drunkenness , with all its concomitant evils ,

at least as a national vice , will be heard of and deplored no more . Lastly , to those who are sufficiently strong-minded , and of course sufficiently blessed with health , to abstain for the sake of example , it need hardly be pointed

out that the same Divine S pirit , that prompted the warning against " putting a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in our brother ' s way , " declared also that " he which converteth the sinner from the error of his wayshall save a soul from

, death ; " and yet further , promised that those who shall " so let their li ght shine " here as to " turn many to ri ghteousness " shall , in the hereafter " shine as the stars for ever aud ever . "