should be taught self-control and moderation in the use of things.
If the appetite becomes vitiated through over-indulgence, you do not
change its condition by complete denial. What you want for radical
cure is the restoration of the old ability to use without abusing.
In other words, you want a man made right again as to his rational
power of self-control, by which he becomes master of himself in all
the degrees of his life, from the highest to the lowest."

"All very well," remarked Dr. Hillhouse, who had joined them while
Mr. Elliott was speaking. "But, in my experience, the rational
self-control of which you speak is one of the rarest things to be
met with in common life, and it may be fair to conclude that the man
who cannot exercise it before a dangerous habit has been formed will
not be very likely to exercise it afterward when anything is done to
favor that habit. Habits, Mr. Elliott, are dreadful hard things to
manage, and I do not know a harder one to deal with than the habit
of over-indulgence in wine or spirits. I should be seriously afraid
of your prescription. The temperate use of wine I hold to be good;
but for those who have once lost the power of controlling their
appetites I am clear in my opinion there is only one way of safety,
and that is the way of entire abstinence from any drink in which
there is alcohol, call it by what name you will; and this is the
view now held by the most experienced and intelligent men, in our
profession."

A movement in the company being observed, Mr. Elliott, instead of
replying, stepped toward a lady, and asked the pleasure of escorting
her to the supper-room. Dr. Hillhouse was equally courteous, and Mr.
Ridley, seeing the wife of General Logan, whom he had often met in
Washington, standing a little way off, passed to her side and