xt to drink, overdrawn
tea was the most responsible agent for insanity. That week he had
received a farmer's wife and five strapping sons all stark mad
from the poison stewing by so many of our hearths.

Whilst we were guided by the healthy traditions of our own race,
we fed on solid food--oatmeal, specially suited to our climate,
being a heat-producer, a bone-builder and a tissue-former, rich
milk, butter, vegetables and home-cured bacon. What a poor
substitute for these luscious foods are the weak white bread and
thin cup of tea! The Scotsman has stuck to his national diet; he
has done more, he has forced his porridge on the bill of fare of
every first-class English hotel.

[Side note: Activity I]

Could not the curate, from the lecture platform, in the school
and in private conversation, drive home to the people and open
their eyes to the suicide they are committing? I know one priest
who gets every farmer in his parish to sow every year a quarter
acre of oats for home use. Could not others do the same?

[Side note: Drink]

_The second cause is Drink_. On this question I shall content
myself with quoting a few statistics. They supply melancholy food
for reflection.

In 1899, out of every three placed in the dock for drunkenness in
the capital of this Catholic country one was a woman. I think you
may search the world for a more shameless exhibition.

Out of every thousand of the general population in England, fifty
persons are arrested for drunkenness; out of every thousand of
the general population in Ireland, one hundred and forty-three.
In other words, we produce almost three convicted drunkards to
their one. And still we plume ourselves on our superior virtue.

Our total income from agriculture, the staple industry of the
country, is forty millions. On this, mainly, the nation has to
live. Yet before a penny is touched for food, clothing or
education, almost fourteen out of the forty millions are handed
over to the sellers of drink.

Within fifteen years we lost half a million of our people, but we
consoled ourselves by opening eleven hundred and seventy-five new
public-houses within the same period.

[Side note: Activity II]

To these figures I shall not add one word: it would only weaken
the argument. Will any one deny that the young priest has here an
ample field for his zeal and energy, and a splendid opportunity
of proving himself the reformer and saviour of the people?

[Side note: Emigrati