Years ago it was a common thing to see a free lunch advertised on the windows or door of the saloon in our large cities. But the saloonkeeper was not interested in feeding the poor. That free lunch was with him a mere business investment. He served the kind of food that he knew would lead to the bar for the drink he had on sale. He could not give a scientific reason why the food he served created a thirst for beer. He knew from experience, however, that it did, and that he could well afford to serve his patrons this sort of free lunch. That saloonkeeper had business sense enough not to serve his patrons pears, peaches, oranges, grapefruit, or even milk. He knew that serving such food would, in time, ruin his business. On that free-lunch table were served various kinds of highly seasoned meat with a liberal supply of mustard, horse-radish, pepper, and so forth—all of which were irritating to the mucous membrane of the stomach and tended to create, or keep alive, a craving for a narcotic, and especially for beer.
It is an unfortunate thing that many a praying mother, instead of serving fresh fruits liberally to her children, is serving them with the same kind of food that the old-time saloonkeeper served on that free-lunch table. Unconsciously she is neutralizing her prayers, and is playing into the hands of the liquor industry. It matters not whether that kind of food is served in a saloon or in one's home. In either case it leads to drink. Not merely do such foods create a thirst for beer and cocktails, but they create a craving for other narcotics. It will be noticed that even a cigarette will be more apt to quench the thirst created by such highly seasoned foods than water. Having once made this discovery, a person will most naturally reach for a cigarette after such a meal.
We deplore the condition that exists in the world today. Many are calling attention to it, but seldom is attention called to the causes.
