Insanity and the Saloons
By Baptist Chronicle
INSANITY in this country has increased at three times the rate of the population. The use of alcoholic drinks and narcotics is ascribed as the chief cause. The license tax of saloons will scarcely pay for the maintenance of the additional asylum equipment and support of inmates required. Readers may remember an editorial some time ago as to the work of the Alexandria saloons in sending a formerly useful man to the Pineville asylum, leaving, practically, a widow and several children. Now, $10,000 is being appropriated to build another building, not, of course, because of this one inmate; but let a test be made and see if the new building, or even all of the old ones, would be required if it were not for the wrecks wrought by the saloons. This does not take into consideration the cost of support of those impoverished by the saloon nor the loss of the labor of the insane and the drunkards. Alas, what wo is wrought by the evil! — Baptist Chronicle.