320 THE EVOLUTION AGAINST NARCOTICS 



greatly enhanced when we read the facts and inferences on which 

 it is founded. " The petition of the Middlesex magistrates, for 

 example, in support of the Gin Act of 1736 especially singles out 

 journeymen and apprentices as the classes particularly addicted to 

 this sort of excess " l (i.e. industrial drinking). Surely it is suffi- 

 ciently clear that the action of the magistrates indicated a know- 

 ledge that excessive drinking in work time is injurious, and that the 

 drinking of the journeymen and apprentices was excessive. The 

 notion that industrial drinking is a comparatively modern in- 

 stitution is absolutely erroneous. In many parts of Europe, for 

 thousands of years, water has only exceptionally been used as a 

 beverage. Even as regards our own country, it may be laid down 

 as a general rule that, before the introduction of tea and coffee, 

 men, whenever able, used alcohol at all times of the day, both when 

 working and playing. Beer and cider were common industrial 

 drinks with our ancestors, especially with agricultural labourers, who 

 were the great majority of the nation, and to whom it was customary 

 to make a regular allowance. The condition of affairs now pre- 

 valent in Russia, as depicted in the following extract, formerly 

 obtained in England. 



539. "Feodor asked me if I would like to go to the haymaking 

 next day. . . . ' Is Feodor at home?' I asked. Then a man 

 appeared from a neighbouring cottage and said, ' Feodor is in the 

 inn drunk.' * Is he going to the haymaking ? ' I asked. ' Of 

 course he is going.' ' Is he very drunk ? ' I asked. ' No, not very ; 

 I will tell him you are here.' Then a third person appeared, a 

 young peasant in his Sunday clothes, and asked where I was 

 going. I said I was going to make hay. ' Do you know how to ? ' 

 he asked. I said I didn't. * I see,' he said, ' you are just going to 

 amuse yourself. I advise you not to go. They will be drunk, and 

 there might be unpleasantness.' . . . Then the haymaking began. 

 The first step that was taken was for vodka bottles to be produced, 

 and for every one to drink vodka out of a cup. Then was a great 

 deal of shouting and an immense amount of abuse. ' It doesn't 

 mean anything,' said Feodor. ' We curse each other and make it 

 up afterwards.' Then they drew lots for the particular strip they 

 should mow; each man carried his scythe high on his shoulder. 

 (' Don't come too near,' said Feodor ; ' when the men have taken 

 drink they are careless with the scythes.') " 2 



540. The following are descriptions of devoted workmen who 



*Qp.cit.,p. ii. 



* Maurice Baring, A Year in Russia, pp. 291-3. London : Methuen & Co., 1907. 



