was proud, and much hurt at
having to accept charity, but his family was suffering, and there was
no alternative. The aid was provided in so delicate a manner that the
man's heart was touched, and he became very grateful to the visitor for
his unflagging and kindly interest. They spent their evenings together
frequently. The man began to drink less, at last stopped altogether,
and {61} now has secured permanent work and is doing well." [8]

There is diversity of opinion as to the value of pledges. It would
seem unwise, however, when a man has broken a pledge, to encourage him
to renew it. Let him try a promise to himself, and prove that he can
be a man without artificial props.

In more stubborn cases the law must be invoked. Sometimes it is well
to try several remedies at once, asking the police to threaten arrest,
following this up at once with an invitation to join some temperance
society (preferably one connected with the man's church), and trying at
the same time to substitute some new interest. Milder measures
failing, it will sometimes be necessary to cut off all supplies of
relief, and, this again failing, to take steps to protect wife and
children from the brutalizing influence of the man by breaking up the
home.

There are many causes of the drink evil, as I have tried to show, but,
after every allowance has been made, the chief cause will often be
found in the selfishness of the human heart. {62} There are men who do
not care to be cured of drunkenness, who feel no shame for the misery
and degradation brought upon their families. Here again the "sad fact
of incurability" must be recognized. It is folly to let such men
discover that, through our charitable interest in their families, we
will either directly or indirectly pay their whiskey bills, or will
assume the burdens that they deliberately shirk. A Committee on
Intemperance, reporting to the Ward VIII. Conference of the Boston
Associated Charities in 1886, called attention to this aspect of the
question. "The committee, however, say that, in their opinion, the
question of moral responsibility on the part of the intemperate, and
also, in its degree, on the part of those who, by gifts or other aid,
make intemperance easy, is too much lost sight of; and they believe
that the refusal of all aid to the families of drunkards, outside the
almshouse, unless in exceptional cases, would bring about a better
state of opinion and a juster sense of resp