When the case came to the Charity Organiza-
tion Society the rent was in arrears and the
landlord threatening. We sent a gentleman as
our friendly visitor in the case, and after great
persistence and repeated failures he succeeded
in keeping the head of the family sober for a
few days. The man 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 even-
ings together frequently. The man began
to drink less, at last stopped altogether, and



THE BREADWINNER AT HOME 6 1

now has secured permanent work and is doing
well." 1

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 him-
self, 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 invita-
tion to join some temperance society (preferably
one connected with the man's church), and try-
ing at the same time to substitute some new
interest. Milder measures failing, it will some-
times be necessary to cut off all supplies of
relief, ancl, this again failing, to take steps to
protect wife and children from the brutalizing
influence of the man by breaking up the home.
