Danger | Page 8

and old men too, go home from
them with lighter heads than when they came. No one is compelled to
drink more than is good for him. If he takes too much, the sin lies at his
own door."
"If you talked for ever, Mr. Birtwell," was answered nothing you might
say could possibly change my feelings or sentiments. I know we are
responsible both to God and to society for the stumbling-blocks we set
in the way of others. For a long time, as you know, I have felt this in
regard to our social wine-drinking customs; and if I could have had my
way, there would have been one large party of the season at which
neither man nor woman could taste wine."

"I know," replied Mr. Birtwell. "But I didn't choose to make myself a
laughing-stock. If we are in society, we must do as society does.
Individuals are not responsible for social usages. They take things as
they find them, going with the current, and leaving society to settle for
itself its code of laws and customs. If we don't like these laws and
customs, we are free to drift out of the current. But to set ourselves
against them is a weakness and a folly."
Mr. Birtwell's voice and manner grew more confident as he spoke. He
felt that he had closed the argument.
"If society," answered his wife, "gets wrong, how is it to get right?"
Mr. Birtwell was silent.
"Is it not made up of individuals?"
"Of course."
"And is not each of the individuals responsible, in his degree, for the
conduct of society?"
"In a certain sense, yes."
"Society, as a whole, cannot determine a question of right and wrong.
Only individuals can do this. Certain of these, more independent than
the rest, pass now and then from the beaten track of custom, and the
great mass follow them. Because they do this or that, it is right or in
good taste and becomes fashionable. The many are always led by the
few. It is through the personal influence of the leaders in social life that
society is now cursed by its drinking customs. Personal influence alone
can change these customs, and therefore every individual becomes
responsible, because he might if he would set his face against them, and
any one brave enough to do this would find many weaker ones quick to
come to his side and help him to form a better social sentiment and a
better custom."
"All very nicely said," replied Mr. Birtwell, "but I'd like to see the man

brave enough to give a large fashionable party and exclude wine."
"So would I. Though every lip but mine kept silence, there would be
one to do him honor."
"You would be alone, I fear," said the husband.
"When a man does a right and brave thing, all true men honor him in
their hearts. All may not be brave enough to stand by his side, but a
noble few will imitate the good example. Give the leader in any cause,
right or wrong, and you will always find adherents of the cause. No, my
husband, I would not be alone in doing that man honor. His praise
would be on many lips and many hearts would bless him. I only wish
you were that man! Spencer, if you will consent to take this lead, I will
walk among our guests the queenliest woman, in heart at least, to be
found in any drawing-room this season. I shall not be without my
maids-of-honor, you may be sure, and they will come from the best
families known in our city. Come! say yes, and I will be prouder of my
husband than if he were the victorious general of a great army."
"No, thank you, my dear," replied Mr. Birtwell, not in the least moved
by his wife's enthusiasm. "I am not a social reformer, nor in the least
inclined that way. As I find things I take them. It is no fault of mine
that some people have no control of their appetites and passions. Men
will abuse almost anything to their own hurt. I saw as many of our
guests over-eat last night as over-drink, and there will be quite as many
headaches to-day from excess of terrapin and oysters as from excess of
wine. It's no use, Margaret. Intemperance is not to be cured in this way.
Men who have a taste for wine will get it, if not in one place then in
another; if not in a gentleman's dining-room, then in a drinking-saloon,
or somewhere else."
The glow faded from Mrs. Birtwell's face and the light went out of her
eyes. Her voice was husky and choking as she replied:
"One fact does not invalidate another.