ALCOHOL AND HAPPINESS. 31 



side of us with the powers which our brains develop, and are 

 happy or unhappy according as we feel our superiority or other- 

 wise. Just how much does alcohol interfere in this balance of 

 powers ? It clearly can not lessen the power of outside influences 

 which harm us ; it can as clearly not increase our own powers in 

 so far as they enter into this conflict with the outside world it 

 rather makes us less skillful and able. What can it do, then ? It 

 can deceive us. It dulls our appreciation of powers outside of us 

 until they seem so much smaller that we are sure we can conquer 

 them, and so we gain a feeling of satisfaction. Nine tenths of 

 those who take strong drink seek this feeling in alcohol. This is 

 their " refreshing " at eventide, their " rest from the day's cares," 

 their f orgetf ulness of sorrows ; but it rests upon a deceit, and at 

 the least trial falls into ruin. He who to-day forgets is not any 

 stronger to-morrow, and so is constantly tempted to a new appeal 

 to his false friend until his senses are so dulled that every duty is 

 forgotten. His holiest interests are but shadows and mist before 

 his eyes, and he knows nothing more but thirst for the deceitful 

 drink. Even the defenders of alcohol at last call a halt ; but they 

 have forgotten that the first steps are much more easily undone 

 than the later ones, when the brain has in a measure lost its power 

 to control. They do not forget through malice, but because they 

 have not rightly understood the physiological efi^ect of alcohol. 



And the poor drinkers say : " There is so much misery in the 

 world, and we must have now and then a care-free hour ; there- 

 fore we drink. What will you give us in place of drink ?" Is 

 the argument true ? Is the future of mankind really so hopeless, 

 and does life ofi^er nothing to the man who refuses alcohol instead 

 of the f orgetfulness which alcohol brings ? I believe that in this 

 respect the attitude of men toward this problem has very much 

 changed. Has not the newly awakened appreciation of Nature in 

 this century revealed a new source of joy which our forefathers 

 did not know ? Who ever could have known formerly that a 

 glimpse of the Alps or the raging sea could give pleasure which 

 really makes strong and furnishes recompense for trouble and 

 trials ? Our new insight into the secrets of Nature, the general 

 dissemination of art so that even the masses may enjoy its works, 

 these are worth more to alleviate care than anything known of 

 old. But it comes so slowly, some say. It takes the masses so 

 long to acquire the power to appreciate these things. But why ? 

 Because they spend their leisure hours in seeking the stupor and 

 forgetfulness which alcohol brings, and so have no time to dis- 

 cover beauty anywhere ; also because so many have dulled their 

 senses until they have no power to appreciate, and because alco- 

 hol has really made the sum of misery larger. That this is true 

 is conclusively proved in communities where alcohol is not used 



