SCANDINAVIA- 1893 451 



The whole old system of saloons, gin-shops, and the like, 

 with their allurements to the drinking of adulterated al 

 cohol, had been swept away, and in its place the govern 

 ment had given to a corporation the privilege of selling 

 pure liquors in a restricted number of decent shops, un 

 der carefully devised limitations. First, the liquors must 

 be fully tested for purity; secondly, none could be sold 

 to persons already under the influence of drink; thirdly, 

 no intoxicant could be sold without something to eat with 

 it, the effects of alcohol upon the system being thus miti 

 gated. These and other restrictions had reduced the 

 drink evil, as I was assured, to a minimum. But the 

 most far-reaching provision in the whole system was that 

 the company which enjoyed the monopoly of this trade was 

 not allowed to declare a dividend greater than, I believe, 

 six per cent.; everything realized above this going into 

 the public treasury, mainly for charitable purposes. The 

 result of this restriction of profits was that no person 

 employed in selling ardent spirits was under the slight 

 est temptation to attract customers. Each of these sell 

 ers was a salaried official and knew that his place de 

 pended on his adhering to the law which forbade him 

 to sell to any person already under the influence of liquor, 

 or to do anything to increase his sales; and the whole 

 motive for making men drunkards was thus taken away. 



I was assured by both the American and British con 

 suls, as well as by most reputable citizens, that this sys 

 tem had greatly diminished intemperance. Unfortunately, 

 since that time, fanatics have obtained control, and have 

 passed an entirely &quot; prohibitory &quot; law, with the result, as 

 I understand, that the community is now discovering 

 that prohibition does not prohibit, and that the worst 

 kinds of liquors are again sold by men whose main mo 

 tive is to sell as much as possible. 



The most attractive feature in my visit to Norway was 

 Throndheim. With my passion for Gothic architecture, 

 the beautiful little cathedral, which the authorities were 

 restoring judiciously, was a delight, and it was all the 



