Ch. xvi. [Division] lii.

On occasions like this the legislator should never lose sight of the well-known story of the oculist and the sot. A countryman who had hurt his eyes by drinking, went to a celebrated oculist for advice. He found him at table, with a glass of wine before him. “You must leave off drinking”, said the oculist. “How so?” says the countryman. “You don't, and yet me thinks your own eyes are none of the best.”—“That's very true friend”, replied the oculist: “but you are to know, I love my bottle better than my eyes.”