"You put your case plain enough," he said. "There is small room to doubt how you stand, but I think that you will see that abolition in this case would be impracticable. You know, my girl, in these days a half-loaf is better than no bread. Political parties, like the grass of the field, sprout up and die away. There are but two real parties. The fight on leading issues is between them. All that is necessary for you to do is to read the platforms of these two parties and make your choice. Listen!" He took down a political almanac from one of the library shelves. "We are opposed," he read "to all sumptuary laws as an interference with the individual rights of the citizen." Jean sat rocking slowly, with her hands clasped behind her head. As her father read her forehead wrinkled. After he had finished, she waited as if expecting something more, then said: "Is that all?" "That is all." "Then it occurs to me, if I can understand plain English, that this party proposes to do nothing to stop the terrible drink curse. Bring on another. That is not my party." Judge Thorn read again, and this time with an air of profound satisfaction: "The first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people and the purity of the home." Jean's face lit up, and she looked eagerly toward her father. "We cordially sympathize," read on the judge, "with all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality." Jean sat looking into the fire. Her father waited a few seconds, then she turned her face to him. "And what do they propose to do?" "Do?" "Yes, DO! The cordial sympathy of the whole Republican party does not make Mrs. Crowley any happier nor take any of the soreness out of Cora's body, nor do anything toward curing poor Maggie; and I cannot see how 'cordial sympathy' is going to shut up any saloons or keep Mr. Crowley from getting drunk again. So far, so good, but read on. I am anxious to learn what this party proposes to DO to promote 'temperance and morality.'" "That is all the platform contains on the subject," said Judge Thorn. "Individuals are left to their own judgment as to the best methods to be used in the restriction of the evil, although the policy of the party is well known." "It is?" "High license." "Does high license promote temperance and morality?" "Certainly: high license closes a great many saloons entirely, and puts the business in the hands of men who run respectable places." "Respectable places!" quoted Jean, thoughtfully. The judge looked at the fire in silence. "And, father," persisted the earnest girl, "do statistics prove that fewer licenses are issued in cities where high license laws are in effect and that there is a decrease in crime and poverty?"