An Indictment Against Women

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 25, 1909

An Indictment Against Women

A MAN who has mingled much with the business and social world of San Antonio was discussing the drink habit.

“It is all nonsense,” he said, “for young men to say that they can not resist the temptations of the saloon. As far as my experience goes, the saloon-keepers of San Antonio and the men of San Antonio seldom urge a young man to drink. They will say, ‘Will you have a drink with me?’ and if he replies, ‘No; I never drink,’ or, ‘I would like to be excused this time,’ that is the end of it. It is all a mistake about a young man’s being forced to drink by men of the town. He can refuse very easily if he wants to; and when it is once known that a man never drinks, he is seldom asked to do it. But the really hard people to get away from are the women. You can go into a reception where the punch is strong enough to knock you down, and the first woman you meet will say, ‘Do come and have some punch.’

“‘No, thank you, not now.’”

“‘O, yes, just one glass with me.’”

“If by a certain amount of rudeness you are able to escape this woman, the next one you meet will say: ‘This is the most delicious punch. Let me help you.’”

“‘What! Don’t drink punch? What kind of man are you? I assure you this is quite harmless.’”

“A matronly woman comes along and says: ‘You must taste this punch; it is made from my especial recipe, and I am very proud of it.’”

“‘Don’t drink? Well, just this time, to please me. I’ve raised my children on this punch.’”

“‘And so through the evening. A young man who is strong enough to resist the temptations of society has nothing to fear from the saloons.’”

This is the testimony of not one young man, but several, and it is no uncommon thing to hear men and boys say: “Why will women urge a fellow to drink the way they do?”

There is something peculiar about wine or liquors of any kind—you are always urged to take them. You can refuse bread and butter, meat and potatoes, and even coffee, without a word of remonstrance, but never wine.—San Antonio Express.