New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-23
THE LAGER BEER SALOONS.

Aorf n usical 10 the ATeTlcan te'"' wv VI ~"o
Tuki.b "Byrfs;" bat irfsi ely more suggestive TO
.s car NJ the IondOneT il the iDteosely harsh aud
S.,oD term. "Stcu; - In no other msoner, perhaps,
AZ. the chsrscterisiics Of nation msoe moro appa.
,e,, than in the choice Of is beverage and stnu-
,,,.s Thus in the profound Est we Sod the 0smanli
s.tlssipe spii Jus iq los, aud extracting from the
EoJrI he1y liquid ~bicb is stimulating in its effec,s
a, .borcb "A used by them, not detrimAtal TO health
NJ morality. All through the sosh Of Europe light
pss are in general nee, by the poorest Glasses
and i ely thai the traveller " di.gu,ted by the
sight Of sn intoxicated peIsop in those lsnds where
fbe v ne il mos sbund4nt. In the north Of France,
ard in the various States Of Germany, the favoriie
beverage ia beer not that heavy, intoxicating CON-
pouId which delights tho lynn hatic ARglais bat
light, refreshing beverage which Is geseray admitted
10 be innocent and he>lsh'ul in is effect. This 10
known as lager beer, the &c m lager" bel eqaiva
lent "a the English word stock or old Ala.
A dozen year, ago the salons Of our forsigu-born
Citizens OF distinctive class did not numoef fifty; a.
the present time the number Of French, German and
Itsan rtfreshmelt houses exceeds three housard OF
these tia prepondesuce of German to those Of other
patonaiiee is in the otto OF ten TO one Lager beer is
the staple commodity in ALL and it has been estims'ed
ua' three million gslon OF tina. article consumed
in this City every year OF this very large proportion
Is manufactured tee, there being tSeny seven bro We
RIGS in NewYork, aud about fifteen 10 adjoining 10
cses II costs In making from - TO s. per barre,
which is sold at advance Of from - 70 100 per cent
The price per glass vifs according to the locality in
which the salon is situated. Thur, in the eastern
quarter OF the City among dpgy streets and dubious
inhabitants ii may be obtsoed for four, three
cents per glass. while in the favored If not more
respectable vicinity Broadway, it adv to six
cents.
The character Of the consumers of this beverage
does not vary according u The locality ior you will
find as respectable class in the pureus of William
sireet as 10 any other part Of the Metropolis. They
are. as a consequence, for the most part Germans,
with considerable spiDkling Of Frnchmeu, Span
iards Italians, and even Americans. portion OF the
evening is almost invariably devoted by this class to
the erioy ment of lager and the saoia chat OF the
saloon. Enter any Of these place, a. sny hour be
tween 4 O'Clock END midnight and you will find it oc
cupied by groups Of most int igen f1reignborn
citizens, discussing perhaps some recen transaction
Of looa importance the policy aud prospects Of the
various European nations. You need not fear oeifg
hook ed by any drunken brawl disgusting outbust
OF ntemperanoe- sobriety IL distns gushing trait OF
these people who in this X amer but perpetuas the
customs Of their father and And in ad Of the gross
conversation, and the wholesale blasphemy which
charaoteIizes the most respectable of our Amsr
can bar rC ons you will hear only the voice of merri
nent the Joyous laugh, ana music, oftentimes Of a
superior quality 1t u.s. of course, understood that
cepons can be found every rule; but the genera
ity Of the lager beer houses Of City will be found
a. respectable in the conventional meaning of the
tenn IA the most popular Of our refsshment saloons.
Sunday evening is the great event Of the week with
Our foreign born citizens. In the morning there is
church-fo as class they religious; in the afsi-
noon preparation, and in the evening enjoyment.
Enter any one of that multitude of saloons from the
windows and oOOrs Of which h>oo Of ghf proceeds,
and bursts Of music seem 10 invite and welcome the
passtr.by. You enter pausitg upon the Threshold.
Through the blaze of light and wreetbs of tobacco
,mohe YOU are enabled &c peTcsivo that the room 10
tolerahIy crowded by men aud women Of al ages and
all pationa iiies--he German element, however. pro
dominating. They 'or the mC 81 part neatly alfred
the young rejoicing IN bis bro&oooth garments
if perchance his circumstances permit him 10 indulge
in that luxury bot still chogpg to his red cravGt The
eubtm of his political principles and the character
is,ic hat ornament of the lurnverein For the ladies'
they are OF al times ouaruing aud we viii not insti-
tnte spy invidous remarks concerning their costume;
II is sufficient thst their dresses if somstnes gaudy,
arc worn in the most captivating fashion, and their
mani ers are characterized by absence Of all atec-
alton and a disp sitiJn of social merrinent Thee
visitors are seated souua small tables placed in 70 W,
and btfoIe each is large glass of lager beer white
wine Aswe have intims'ed, ciysrs are Ia general
reouisiticn although not always OF the best most
fragrant description. Among these little groups OF
persons on extremely varied conversation is going on,
from the knot of radical politicians yondeI IL the cor
ner to that Young couple whose words are spoken IN
whispeis-whose love finds better Interchange OF
converse ia the pressure Of hsnd-the sparkling
witcheIy Of the eyes. Farhsired young girl uuso-
phscLted boy In the heart Of each theoe Is tdr ess
of worldly guile and deceit than may be found among
The deuiztus Of more favored localities. Young hearts
beat huriodly-foI the generous blood of youth circu
laes more rapidly there than in the veins 'rozen by
ace or the corvertionalsms of a sef'h society She
blushes-his downward gaze ia full Of happy and
earnest love. All many dresm of affection is born
in these r6e places devoted TO merrmehJ aud careless
conversation; and, alas many dean Of passion
also, which gives other victims TO misfortune, and
ADDS yet ether lost oIes TO the ca aogue Of crime
But hank the music has commenced. There is e
call TO order shutting of feet ssd noise OF rehing
glasses, and silence prevails. Mt word is spoken,
sor these people hsve profound appreo atom OF music
which they testify by respectful attention snd ap
plause A prelude is performed upon the piano, aud
She Ialies observe with surprise sHd annoyance thst
the f,st violin player is absent. woman enters, AMI
In the sonorous language OF Fsthersnd sings pani
otto strsin. The people applaud, but do net encore
this efort; in feet they too much indignant 81 he
absence Of their volinst TO appreciate anything The
absent performer is poor musician, half crlzed 10y
tho ELECTS Of liquor to which he resored IN the hops