A SUPEKINTENBENT OP THE OLBEN BAYS. 
otherwise faultless, if we except the faults which this 
fault originated or brought upon them. More than 
this, in many respects they were more apt at their work, 
much more sharp and clever, when quite free from their 
enemy, than many others, who had the character of 
being very steady fellows — but this would be only for 
a time : ill-habits grow apace, and, if unchecked or 
persevered in, will surely eventually choke and ruin 
all the good in one ; it is merely a question of 
time. 
It used to be a popular belief, and many popular 
beliefs have proved themselves to be popular fallacies — 
this belief and this fallacy was, perhaps still is, at least 
in some degree — that a European could not stand the 
wear and tear of tropical life, unless he partook liberally 
of stimulating liquors. But now the highest medical au- 
thorities give their opinion, that stimulating liquors are in 
no case necessary for any one in a fair state of health, and 
particularly in a tropical climate ; to such they are posi- 
tively injurious]; and that the less one drinks of in- 
toxicating liquor in a tropical country, the better for 
bis health ; and the beat plan is, as a rule — of course to 
every rule there are excepnons — but as a rule, drink none 
at all. And as a further inducement to this system j just 
consider the saving it would be to young men starting 
in life, the amount saved in the wine, beer and brandy 
account, during the course of a few years, would even- 
tually surprise one. But we would not go so far as many 
do, and say, because we do not drink, we will keep 
none for our visitors ; we go in for liberty of action, 
and freedom of opinion to all. If you don’t drink 
yourself, it is no reason why you should insist upon 
practically inflicting your opinion upon your visitors 
who may differ from you. By all means keep the 
visitors’ liquor, and you will find they will not be 
very hard upon it, w^hen they see it is simply set 
down as a compliment to the stranger, and you do 
not use it yourself. Under these circumstance your 
liquor bill will be small indeed, as compared with 
what it would be were you to fill your glass, pass 
the bottle, and press your guest. We know very well 
many will say : This is inconsistent, why keep an article 
in your house for visitors, which you don’t use your- 
self ; if you disapprove of it, why offer it to others ? 
One who does not smoke’ does not keep tobacco, pipes, 
or cigars, for his visitors. This is a different question 
altogether, for the smoker invariably carries about his 
smoking materials with him, and even if his host did 
produce pipes or cigars, in all probability he would 
not use them, but stick to his own. But we have no 
hesitation in saying, that, even supposing we did not 
smoke, we would keep a supply of cigars or tobacco 
