CAROUSING BY WHOLESALE.
DRINKING makes head in some of the rustic parts of France. An Angevin farmer writes in alarm to the Corsaire, complaining that a Parisian practice of "drinking by the hour" has been in- troduced in the commune village, and that one effect has been a great augmentation of the business of the gendarmerie in the way of quelling wine-shop disturbances. A sergeant of that gal- lant corps actually refused to dine with the farmer on a recent Sunday because of his largely increased duties in keeping the peace. This "drinking by the hour" must be placed in the same category with "dining off the joint," or the privilege of the "table d'hôte"; only it is much more hazardous to public order. The price at which the toper was to be allowed to consume his wine without measure, must have formed the subject of some nice calculations. Few Dandos are produced in an age, and hence the accuracy with which men's eating may be ave- raged; but the capabilities of liquid consumption are not so easily measured—at least in this country. The cabaretiers, however, are pushing the business at six sous (3d.) per hour ; and as the retail price over the counter, or " in your own jug," is a penny the litre, (one quart,) the quantity which will be allowed without grudging may be put down at three quarts each hour that the toper avails himself of the contract. The Angevin farmer mentions that a gardener of his, " rather thirsty," and endowed with "a day's pay of 40 sous, (20d.,) is enabled to drink by the hour for three days." In this there must be a mistake; for the 40 sons are hardly equal to seven hours' drinking; unless, indeed, the drinking day is short and the charge is made to diminish in an immense ratio as the hours advance. Perhaps the scale is so adjusted as to take into account the probability that at a certain stage drinking may be suspended in quarrelling ; or even where this does not take place, sleep may interpose and cut off the power of consumption. Probably the sole country where such copious supplies of liquor could be furnished at the rate of 3d. an hour is Scotland. Kirk- Sessions might add a curious chapter to the report recently pub- lished upon this point. Xliey could tell that there is a beverage called "small beer," brewed from malt and hops, which sells, where quantities are taken, at a penny the quart bottle ; that it is not in favour when it is "flat," the test of excellence being that it " nips the nose" or "cuts the breath." What if the French practice should be adopted, and the consumers allowed to swill this cut-breath beverage at threepence the hour? It might pro- duce an anti-whisky revolution, and in time enable a nation to get rid of its headache.
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