264 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



in itself desired; often enough it is hated. But the user finds himself 

 under the rule of an imperative, an insistent idea, a tormenting pres- 

 ence, and this presence is his whole deep human personality crying out 

 against the eternal urge of the "will to live." The spirit of the age 

 proclaims that we must be efficient. Efficiency, and ever more effi- 

 ciency, is demanded and the desire for alcohol is the desire for rest, for 

 release from the tension, for freedom and abandonment. Nietzsche, 

 crying out against this spirit of progress, says: 



Why does precisely this gloomy and vehement oppressor pursue me? I long 

 for rest but it will not let me. 



The relation between the effect of alcohol and that of the drama is 

 again clearly expressed by Benjamin Ide Wheeler, when he says: 



That which was at the beginning the charm of the drama, and has been, so 

 far as it is true to itself, ever since, is its power to release those who behold it 

 for a little while from the burden and enthrallment of the commonplace work- 

 aday life, and bathe their wearied souls in dreams. This is the very heart of 

 Dionysus, and this too is his claim to control the fruit of the vine. 



But now, if this theory is correct, what is the conclusion? Is alco- 

 hol a means of purification through relaxation? Just so far as it af- 

 fords rest to the wearied higher brain centers and relief from the 

 tyranny of the will, it is a means of purification, but unfortunately it 

 is at the same time a poison, bringing in its train a heavy residuum 

 of damage not only to society, but to the individual. The imperative 

 need of relaxation is apparent, but, while play and sport are relaxing 

 and recreative, alcohol is relaxing and destructive. The colossal evil 

 of its excessive use is evident to every one, but there is reason to believe 

 that even its moderate use detracts from the sum-total of well-being of 

 the individual in exact proportion to the amount used. , It is possible, 

 however, that the case is still worse. Let us suppose that alcohol were 

 not a poison, that it had no effect beyond a slight paralysis of the 

 higher brain centers. "What will be the cumulative effects of such 

 action upon the individual and the race? This question can not at 

 present be answered. It seems probable that this constant doping of 

 the highest and most delicate nervous centers, while it affords the 

 needed relaxation, may work havoc with the delicate organization of 

 the brain. Possibly alcohol represents a factor of maladaptation in 

 the evolution of man and will prevent the realization of his highest 

 destiny. If we consider the degree of civilization attained by the an- 

 cient Greeks, several stages above our own in art, and on an equal plane 

 at least in poetry, in eloquence, and in philosophy, we are impressed 

 with the slight progress we have made, when measured by a reasonable 

 expectation based on the time which has elapsed and our rich intellec- 

 tual inheritance. Gladstone bemoaned the lack of progress in intellec- 

 tual power made by man in recent centuries. Is any one in position to 

 say that this has not, in part at least, come about from meddling with 

 ethyl alcohol? 



