appetites are yet unvitiated and lure them to excesses. It does not
make a free indulgence in wine and brandy any the more excusable
because men overeat themselves."

"But," broke in Mr. Birtwell, with the manner of one who gave an
unanswerable reason, "if we exclude wine that men may not hurt
themselves by over-indulgence, why not exclude the oysters and
terrapin? If we set up for reformers and philanthropists, why not
cover the whole ground?"

"Oysters and terrapin," replied Mrs. Birtwell, in a voice out of
which she could hardly keep the contempt she felt for her husband's
weak rejoinder, "don't confuse the head, dethrone the reason,
brutalize, debase and ruin men in soul and body as do wine and
brandy. The difference lies there, and all men see and feel it, make
what excuses they will for self-indulgence and deference to custom.
The curse of drink is too widely felt. There is scarcely a family in
the land on which its blight does not lie. The best, the noblest,
the purest, the bravest, have fallen. It is breaking hopes and
hearts and fortunes every day. The warning cross that marks the
grave of some poor victim hurts your eyes at every turn of life. We
are left without excuse."

Mrs. Birtwell rose as she finished speaking, and returned to her
chamber.