. The abstract philosopher, the moment he is charged with the
practical conduct of an affair, as a general rule, fails ignominiously,
even in his own opinion. With regard to drunkenness, for instance, let
us ask ourselves: "Is drunkenness less prevalent now than in olden
times?" Yes. "Is the condition of the woman better, in addition to the
improved habits of the man?" Yes. Therefore, it is evident Society,

THE GRAND MACHINE

(let us never say "Society" when we mean spike-tailed coats), has an
eye on the scourge of Rum, and will eventually stamp it out. "But why,"
asks the Impracticable, "does not Society stamp it out at once?" "Why
does not the sun shine twenty-four hours in America on the Fourth of
July?" Simply because America is not the whole world. Neither is the
subject of the murder of wives and the degradation of offspring the
whole affair with which Society deals.

THE FIRST GREAT DUTY OF SOCIETY

is to feed and clothe her individuals. This burden is just beginning to
sit on her shoulders without galling weight. The next effort is to
protect the more industrious against the forays of the wicked and the
mistakes of the unwise. This is the problem with which the past century
has had most to deal. It is an immeasurably greater question than is
that of drunkenness, and it is immeasurably far from solution. For
instance, a foolish statesman can to-day plunge fifty millions of people
into

WAR

--a thing represented among words by three letters, but which among
events entirely fails to find complete expression, from the lack of any
other misfortune worthy of comparison. An angry statesman, acting like a
boy, may stop, not a game of marbles, but ten thousand grain-laden
ships. But, notwithstanding, as an attendant in the betterment of her
condition, Society is advancing rightly toward the rum-bottle. She does
not hearken always to the voice of

THE PROFESSIONAL TEMPERANCE "WORKER"

because a betterment in Society is naturally and rightly the result of
self-interest. The man who spends his time altogether in the bettering
of others does not establish reforms on the surest basis. Society
usually has to do his work after him, with considerable delay and
additional cost. He is all right in the abstract, but he delays matters.
What I would illustrate is this: The place for the reformer to deal with
drink on a fair battle field is in the city. The place where the
professional reformer finds it profitable