wisdom of mankind, and we'll beat your teetotalers ten times over." Herein lies a great truth.
Dispel this folly by the light of education and the right exercise of wisdom, founded on a knowledge of the laws of nature, and we should no more think of using alcohol as a sustainer of health and strength, than we do of using arsenic for such purposes; no more think of flying in the face of common sense, of outraging our physical and moral nature, by pouring intoxicating liquors into our system, than we should now think of thrusting our hands into a fire, and hope to escape with impunity.
All the authorities of learning, of science, and of experience are against the use of alcohol in any quantity, by men in health. It is appetite alone—treacherous appetite—that leads us astray. All who indulge in its use are injured both in body and in mind. The elevation of the working classes is hopeless until they are taught to overcome this fatal propensity, or until the legislature steps in and banishes the temptation. I have dwelt much on this branch of my subject, because I think it of the first importance. No real good can be done until our drinking customs are undermined.
There are many other points to be considered and attended to, if we could secure the object in view. With a short reference to two or three other essential matters, I shall conclude this paper. A good deal of attention has, of late years, been given to an improvement in the habitations of the poor. This is a matter of vital importance; without it, their social and moral elevation is hopeless. Model lodging houses have been erected, and attention thus called to so desirable an object. I entertain a high respect for their projectors, but I doubt that they will ever prove extensively advantageous. The regulations by which they must be governed interfere too much with the freedom of action which is a great charm of life; and they seem to me to be beginning, as it were, at the wrong end, in building comfortable houses for our artizans, before they have learned to appreciate the value of such abodes. Cleanliness, and sufficient accommodation in their houses for the purposes of decency and the needs of a higher civilization, are not yet felt as wants of their nature. It may be alleged, and alleged no doubt with much force, that some effort to create a feeling in their minds in favour of these aids to a higher civilization should be made, and that "model lodging houses" are a good move in that direction. I doubt not that any influence they may exercise will be useful; but what extended beneficial results can we hope for from a few such establishments, erected at considerable cost, and not paying a sufficient rate of interest for the money expended to induce capitalists who deal with the working classes to embark in such speculations, in competition with benevolent parties who are careless of much profit on their investments?
It seems to me that the true course to pursue is to instruct the people by writing and lectures, and in all our schools, on their real interests in this respect; and by legislative enactments to prevent the nuisance of overcrowded houses by a population regardless of
