If, I said to myself, a man uses wine, beer or spirits habitually, is there no danger that at some time when great interests, or even life itself, may be at stake, a glass too much may obscure his clear intellect and make him the instrument of loss or disaster?
I pursued the subject, and as I did so was led to this conclusion--that society really suffers more, from what is called moderate drinking than it does from out-and-out drunkenness." "Few will agree with you in that conclusion," returned Doctor Hillhouse.
"On the contrary," replied Mr.Carlton, "I think that most people, after looking at the subject from the right standpoint, will see it as I do." "Men who take a glass of wine at dinner and drink with a friend occasionally," remarked Doctor Hillhouse, "are not given to idleness, waste of property and abuse and neglect of their families, as we find to be the case with common drunkards.

They don't fill our prisons and almshouses.

Their wives and children do not go to swell the great army of beggars, paupers and criminals.

I fear, my friend, that you are looking through the wrong end of your glass." "No; my glass is all right.

The number of drunken men and women in the land is small compared to the number who drink moderately, and very few of them are to be found in places of trust or responsibility.