Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/23

 THE SOCIAL VALUE OF THE SAI ON 9

No one who is familiar with this life \viT\ deny the great educational value of the saloons, and this soc : *1 expression, freeing of human activity is rendered possib - by the stimul.ji which the saloon offers. It stands not foi sctia 1 opportun.

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only. It affords also the conditions of sociality. "The first action of ethylic alcohol," says Dr. Kerr, "is vascular relaxation, commonly called exhilaration or stimulation, when a glow of warmth spreads over the whole system, when the heart beats faster, when 'happy thoughts' crowd in upon the brain, \\lu-n all seems life and light and joy, when everything without ;unl within wears a roseate hue." The heart beats more rapidly there is an exaltation of the mind, a freeing of emotion, il life. pleasurable ideas, rapid thought, unusual merriment. Is it not a social ideal a condition in which each one would appear before his fellow: ( >nlv thru lM . different !*aya "f reaching it. Tlu- demanding power of individuals is here wanting. The