respectable young lady over whom I might have any influence, to even attend the evening meetings of these temperance societies, as I think it has been conclusively proved that they promote immorality.’ Such a statement coming from an influential and respected citizen, who himself practices and inculcates temperance principles, shows the tendency of the prohibitory movement in this state.” It would be an easy matter to collect volumes of evidence on this question of the real effect of prohibitory laws, all going to show that they do not prevent intemperance, that they do lead to the use of other stimulants, that they undermine the character of the community, and that, from whatever point of view regarded, they must be considered harmful to the individual and to the state. Enough, however, for our present purpose and for the space at command has been already said. Those best informed will be most ready to say that the presentation above given does not overstate, but rather falls short of displaying the corruption that creeps in where a prohibitory law is in force. CHAPTER XI. WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY. What shall we do to prevent the evils of a too free use of intoxicating drinks, and to make our people truly temperate? This question was ably discussed in the State Board of Health of Massachusetts some years ago, and Dr. Bowditch, the chairman of the board, expressed himself at that time as follows: “I am confident that our people could be gradually led to a higher temperance by appeals to common sense while deprecating the evils of intemperance, by observing that the use of some liquors is deleterious, while the temperate use of others does little or no harm. I deem a love of stimulants as much a human instinct as any other of the so-called human instincts. And the proposition of total abstinence from stimulants because intoxication prevails widely in the community, seems to me as preposterous as it would be to advise universal celibacy because of the existence of gross evils in connection with those instincts that lead to the divine institution of marriage. By classifying all liquors as equally injurious, and by endeavoring to further that idea in the community, are we not doing a real injury to the country by preventing a free use of lager beer instead of ardent spirits to which our people are so addicted? In the sincere belief, gentlemen, that this analysis of our correspondence will, eventually at least, tend to help onward the most excellent cause of temperance everywhere, and in the hope that none will be offended at the expression at times, of my own individual opinion, which in the course of the discussion I have deemed it my right and duty to give, I remain Your colleague and friend, HENRY J. BOWDITCH, _Chairman of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts._”