THE EVILS OF TEA DRINKING AND THE LIQUOR HABIT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9541, 29 November 1893, Page 3

THE EVILS OF TEA DRINKING AND THE LIQUOR HABIT.

SjEi—At snph a time as this I would not trouble you were it not that I am deeply in earnest in my eiforbs against intemperance, and I know that many—and lam thankful to say the Domber is increasing —in Ifapier are a very lively interest in this great qacstton of tbe llqaor traffic, and I wish very briefly to reply to What' I consider to be one of the weakest arguments against temperanoe reform that 16 la possible, to conceive, viz, that tea drinking la as Injurious as beer drinklog. The evils tesnlting from indulgence in tea have been commented and enlarged npon to (>uoh an exteot-^nye, and by men well capable of advancing sonud argument— that there are those who conclude that there mast be totnethioff io ir. In so ooßQladlog they betray wonderful simplicity and charming credulity. I would like to know of one single authenticated case where a man or woman has become so debauched, debased, and degraded' as to lose his or her self-respect or position lv society through tea drinking. I wanb to know at one tingle care where a bright and happy home has been mined, where the wife has to spend her days over tbe wash tnb and her eveninge over the ironing table, in order to provide (JO4 M>4 clOiblog for henelf *nd her little

ones, while the hut band upends his eveuings in some den guzzling tea I I want to learn of one siug'e authenticated cmg where character has been blasted, where social, financial, moral and physical ruin has overtaken the poor unfortunate whoso appetite demanded frequent libations of teal I want to find a case where a loving father and kind husband has become a wife-beater and murderer through drinking tea, and then I will admit that there may be something in the argument, and will be prepared oo reply to it ; nutll then let me ask all those who at present think that there "is something in ft " to take the matter to heart, let them think tho question out, and if one suoh oise can lie produced I will be glad to pledge myself with them against the use of tea. Let them bring forward their case.— l am, &c,

D. N. Adams. Napier, November 18, 1893.