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Danger by T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur
page 44 of 316 (13%)

"Oh, then you don't agree with me?"

"Pure wine is one thing and too much of what is called American wine
quite another thing," replied the doctor. "Cheap wine for the
people, as matters now stand, is only another name for diluted
alcohol. It is better than pure whisky, maybe, though the larger
quantity that will naturally be taken must give the common dose of
that article and work about the same effect in the end."

"Then you are not in favor of giving the people cheap wines?" said
the clergyman.

The doctor shrugged his shoulders again.

"I have been twice to Europe," he replied, "and while there looked a
little into the condition of the poorer classes in wine countries. I
had been told that there was scarcely any intemperance among them,
but I did not find it so. There, as here, the use of alcohol in any
form, whether as beer, wine or whisky, produces the same result,
varied in its effect upon the individual only by the peculiarity of
temperament and national character of the people. I'll take another
glass of that sherry; it's the best I've tasted for a year."

And Dr. Hillhouse held out his glass to be filled by the flattered
host, Mr. Elliott doing the same, and physician and clergyman
touched their brimming glasses and smiled and bowed "a good health."
Before the hour for going home arrived both were freer of tongue and
a little wilder in manner than when they came.

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