'Modern Prophets and Other Sketches' Summary

Modern Prophets and Other Sketches is a collection of short stories and sketches that explore the issue of temperance and prohibition. Each story takes a different approach to the topic, examining the personal, social, and economic consequences of alcohol abuse. One story, "The Drummer Boy," tells the tale of a young boy who is forced to become the breadwinner for his family after his father becomes an alcoholic. Another story, "The Model Saloon," exposes the hypocrisy of the temperance movement by showing how even those who claim to be against alcohol often profit from its sale. While the stories in Modern Prophets and Other Sketches are all fictional, they are based on real-life events and people. Alden's goal was to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse and to encourage people to support the temperance movement.