236 AMERICAN FARMS. 



The Rev. Josiah Strong, commenting on the above, in 

 dealing with this subject in his book, " Our Country," 

 says : " Men of nervous organizations are not only more 

 likely than others to use alcohol, and to use it to excess, 

 but its effects in their case are worse and more rapid. 

 The wide difference between a nervous and a phlegmatic 

 temperament accounts for the fact that one man will kill 

 himself with drink in four or five years, and another in 

 forty or fifty." 



The annual expenditure of the United States for 

 foreign and domestic liquors is now estimated at one 

 thousand millions of dollars. " This is more than is ex- 

 pended for beef, pork, and flour, and nearly equals the 

 amount paid for wages in all the manufacturing estab- 

 lishments of every description." ' Official statistics show 

 that beer has largely taken the place of spirits, but 

 though in 1840, the United States consumed four gallons 

 of liquor per capita, in 1888 she consumed over twelve 

 gallons per capita. 



As the people gather more into the cities, a larger pro- 

 portion of the nation becomes more subject to nervous 

 disorders, and a consequent susceptibility to intemper- 

 ance, a habit which further impairs the moral, the men- 

 tal, and the physical capacities of men, — which fills jails 

 with criminals, poorhouses with paupers, and makes 

 many homes of wretchedness. The increased exposure 

 to the vice of intemperance is one grave objection to 

 change from country to city life. Especially is this the 

 case with those who become engaged in the very unhealthy 

 occupations — occupations which are on the increase. 

 Higher wages are paid to those who are likely to be soon 

 cut down by the deadly effects of their peculiar industry. 



' Senator John J. Ingalls, North American Review, August, 1889. 



