TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 99, 23 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

[The matter for this column is supplied by a representative of the local Temperance bodies, who alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in it.] NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND . CRICKET. We are now entering upon the cricket season, which, owing to the visit to Australia of an All England team in which Prince Ranjitsinhji, the particular star in the cricket firmament of to-day, is included, promises to be of much interest. The Indian prince has made a study of cricket and of the conditions which make good cricketers, and it is not surprising that with regard to drinks he is against even the chosen beverage of the Britisher — beer — and declares that water is best. Writing in an English paper he sayß:— ' Nothing is bo apt to deaden activity and create sluggishness in the middle of the day. With regard to drinks, boys generally drink ginperbeer, lemonade, and whera they are allowed it, beer. I ussert, although I fear there will be a great preponderance of opinion against my theory, : nat water is far and away the best ; failing rhat, I advise non-alcoholic drinks. Many players make a habit of taking a drink in the middle of a long innings. Ido not advise them to take anything more than a little water, just to wet the throat and rinse the mouth. This is all that is necessary : it will quench the thirst effectively.' Many young and promising cricketers are abstainers. It may be an encouragement for them to stick to the praotice to know that it has the sanction of such an able crioketer as Ranjitsinhji. ANOTHER TRIBUTE TO ABSTAINING. A few years ago an expedition left Australia with colonists for Paraguay, the intention being to found a communistic labour colony under the leadership of a man named Lane, and to be called ' New Australia.' Land was obtained cheaply, but funds became exhausted, dissension arose, and starvation was in sight. In fact, so bad was the condition of the unfortunate settlers that the Queensland Government was successf uly appealed to to bring back those who were anxious to return to that colony, and some returned in August. There were a few teetotallers among thoße who originally went out, and they have succeeded where others failed. The British Consul at Asuncion, speaking of the colonists in Paraguay, says the Italians, Germans, and Swiss are the best, Englishmen, as a rule, the worst. He does not work so hard as other foreigners, and either takes to drinking and loafing or leaves the colony. The founders of the Cosme colony form a notable exception to this rule. These men are nearly all of them Australians, and teetotallers without exception. For over two years they have laboured with praiseworthy energy and extraordinary perseverance, and their efforts, so far, have been crowned with success, the colony being now entirely self - supporting. Another tribute to the benefit of abstaining. ABSTINENCE AND THE DEATH-RATE. The annual report of the Ancient Order of Foresters (United Kingdom) for 1896 states that there are 721,280 members ; also, that during the year 7507 died. The death-rate is slightly over 10^ per 1000. The annual report of the Independent Order of Reohabites (U.K.) for 1896 states that there are 142,395 members ; also, that during the year 857 members died. This death-rate is six members per 1000. If the death-rate of the Foresters had been the same as the Reohabites there would have been ewer deaths by 3154. If the deathrate of the Rechabltes had been the same as the Foresters there would have been 621 more deaths — that is, instead of 857 there would have been 1478.