OUR LIQUOR LAWS. 223 



but in some country districts an increase is reported. In the opinion 

 of Mr. Koren, " so far as the cities and towns are concerned, the 

 dispensary system has already reached the limits of its usefulness 

 as a temperance agent. Any further addition to the State liquor 

 shops, in the cities where they already exist would be a direct invi- 

 tation to drink. With the law so generally and rigidly enforced 

 as at present, any multiplication of dispensaries in semi-rural districts 

 can have no other purpose than to raise revenue and put more wheels 

 into the political machine." 



From the reports prepared by its agents the subcommittee draws 

 the following conclusions: Prohibition has abolished or prevented 

 the manufacture on a large scale of alcoholic liquors within the areas 

 covered by it. Its success in suppressing the retail traffic depends 

 upon the state of public sentiment in each locality. The efforts to 

 enforce it have led to hypocrisy and unfaithfulness in public offi- 

 cials, to bribery and corruption, and to disrespect for law. Its gen- 

 eral effect with regard to diminishing drunkenness remains a matter 

 of opinion, no demonstration being yet attainable after more than 

 forty years of experience. The prohibition over small areas that 

 is secured through local-option laws has the advantage of always 

 having public sentiment behind it. One of the chief objections to 

 the license system is that it compels the liquor traffic to be in politics 

 for self -protection. The enforcement of common restrictions on the 

 sale of intoxicants is also dependent on public opinion. The removal 

 of private profit from the liquor traffic is a desirable end for which 

 no American legislation has yet proved effective. It can not be 

 positively affirmed that any one kind of liquor legislation has been 

 more successful than another in promoting real temperance. The 

 influences of race or nationality are apparently more important than 

 legislation. It is often said that restrictions on drinking at public 

 bars tend to increase drinking in private, and there' is probably 

 truth in this allegation. All things considered, however, the wise 

 course for a community is to strive after all external, visible im- 

 provements, even if it be impossible to prove that internal, funda- 

 mental improvement accompanies them. 



Birds have curious ways in the selection of materials for their nests. 

 An oriole's nest found by M. Marcel Plaideau near Lille, Belgium, was com- 

 posed of white wool and Morse telegraph paper, which the bird had to go 

 three kilometres to the nearest telegraph office to get. It might be sug- 

 gested that the bird knew in some way how warm a covering paper makes; 

 but then we hear of nests near Besancon, France, made of watch-spring 

 steel ; and a bird is told of that robbed a St. Bernard dog of his hairs to 

 construct a nest. 



