OF THE VINE. 49 



are in common use among all classes, and we have 

 heard it remarked in derision, that give a man of 

 this class a piece of bread, a few dry figs or dates, 

 a little sweet oil, and a bottle of claret, and he will 

 feast like a lord and be happy. This mode of 

 living is coeval with the introduction of the vine 

 and olives of those countries ; and where a man is 

 found indulging in the use of strong drinks, he is 

 the subject of remark and commiseration by his 

 friends and acquaintance. In Havana, all classes 

 make free use of wines ; yet, in a population of 

 20,000 souls, it is a rare thing to hear of a Creole 

 or Spaniard who is in the habit of using distilled 

 spirits." 



Judge Woodruff in his travels observes : " Since 

 my arrival in Europe, and throughout my tour 

 thus far, I have often been led to the most painful 

 reflections, upon the intemperate use of ardent 

 spirits, which so alarmingly prevails in my own 

 country. It is with great satisfaction I am 

 waranted to say, that while in Greece, Asia Minor, 

 Malta, Tunis, Port Mahon and Spain, in the whole 

 about six months, I never saw a native of either of 

 these countries in any degree intoxicated; but 

 in most of them, many English, Scotch, Irish, 

 Eussians, and (I blush for shame when I say it) 

 Americans^ in a state of sottish drunkenness. 

 These are wine countries. It has often been 

 remarked, that the inhabitants of all such countries, 

 are distinguishable from others, by their disuse of 

 intoxicating liquors. This is literally correct, so far 



