The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-09

none nevertheless lack customers. Night
after night, early and late, they are constant
ly full. Beer and cider are the only drinks
served, the latter of which is used very
much by the lower classes, particularly du-
ring years when apples are abundant, at
which time it is sold for IA or Ia cents
glass. At present, the past year having
been unfruitful, it is cts. glass, the same
as beer The appearance and character of
these beer houses varies very much. Some
are fitted up with elegance, and frequented
by the respectable classes, while others, fur
nished with pine tables and wooden benches,
are the resort only of soldiers, and the dregs
of the popnlace. In the former are found
the journalist, the teacher, the student, the
merchants and store keepers clerk, and the
respectable mechanic. These all meet and
.ningle apparently on the most perfect equal
ity. In addition to reading the news, and
general conversation, cards seem favorte
amusement here. Indeed, il is surprising to
an American how much the Germans, like
the French, are addicted to this game. In
every circle of society, public or private,
cards are the constant order of the day.
In the lower beer shops, singing frequent
" forms part of the evening amusement,
in which often the whole company takes
part. This, however, is more usual in viii
lagos and small towns, than in such places
as Frankfort.
Besides the habit, on the part of almost
every German, of spending the evening reg
ularly at public houses, another circumstance
here has struck me, which is an additional
proof of the absence OF that life en- famiUe,
that domestic life which exists in New Eng
land. Scarcely any young or unmarried
man boards in a family. This is even fire.
quently the case with those who have pa
rents in the same place. Each has his pri-
vate room or rooms, without having any
intercourse with the people of the house,
and takes all his meals, except breakfast
(Which is only coffee and bre.d) at the pub
lie inns or eating houses. His morning
coffee is brought to his room by the servant
of the house, though many even make this
themselves, having machines for the pur-
pose. He is thus cut off from all the re-
fning and moralizing influences which the
English and Americans attach to the word
home
The custom of frequenting public houses,
extends in some degree also to the female
part of society. la the common beer shops
women may often be seen, particularly on a
Sunday evening. Tradesinen go also fire.
wives and daughters, TO the cafes, or wine
houses. | have even seen the members of
the National Assembly there, with their la
dies. | went, with a friend, by chance, one
evening during the winter, 10 one of the
principal wine tcirthshauser. The ordinary
saloon was full , and we were ushered into a
side apartment Here we found quite a
company, consisting chiefly of members OF
the National Assembly and their wives and
daughters. There were Mr.. Gunther (men-
Der of the Assembly. and editor of the Reich
stays Zeifung, the organ Of the Left with
his wife, and daughter of about nineteen !:
Zimmerman, Stuttgart. one of the leading
members of the left; Eisenstuck, now Vice
President of the Assembly. and others of
both sexes, whom my friend and myself did
not personally know. Our entrance gave
no embarrassment 10 the company, who con-
tinued their eating and drinking as before
Politics was the subject Of conversation, in
which the ladies took their full share. The
German ladies are, by the way, quite politi-
clans, and generally republican.
The villages, in the vicinity of Frankfort,
are on Sunday afternoon and evening, the
crowded resort of both the male and female
population Of the place. This day seems,
indeed, the only one OIL which the ladies are
permitted to partake of the pleasures of the
sterDer part of humanity. Generally, while
the husband and son are spending their eve
nngs at a wine or beer house, drinking their
usual beverage, and eating a steak or outlet,
the wife and daughter are industrious at
home, not even having the luxury of tea,
but suppiDg, perhaps, on bread and butter,
potatoes and salad, or some other such fru-
l. - A. l.. T..
of creation"
would not wish to convey the idea by
the foregoing, that the Germans are an in
temperate people, at least, those of the CEN
tire and south. On the contrary, there is no
country where IntoxIcatiOn is more seldom
seen ! have been surprised at this. 1t
arises, suppose, from the nature of their
drink. They very rarely drink spirits of
any sort, combining themselves entirely TO
wine, beer, and cider, which are of mild
character, and do not appear to inhame
much the desire for increased qualification
The wine IS the produce Of the country, and
is free from drugs or liquors; the beer is
made very mild. and the cider is preserved
i'm some manner by which it retains partially
the sweetness il has when new. 4 German,
moreover, has generally his regular daily
quantity fixed, beyond which he seldom
goes. He seems 10 drink, less for the drink
ing itself, than for the associations connected
with il. Hence be does not drink in the
morning, and rarely during the day, hut
chiefly only in the evening, when he dozes,
smokes, or chats over his glass, as If but to
pass away the time. With two or three
glasses of beer, or two Of wine, he sits the
whole evening. In the North of Germany.
am told, il is little different. There.
where spirits are more generally used, in
toxication is more common. In all southern
countries, where wine is abundant and
cheap, forming the daily beverage of all
classes, intoxication is rare. In the south
of France, where bottle of wine costs but
ee or four cents, it is almost unknown
Every where in France, if drunken man