Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-06

our readers has visited that great rendezvous OF
Lager Bier-the Philadelphia Post Office-will.
read this graphic description with considerable
interest. 1t is from the Philadelphia North
American:
Whoever has been absent from Philadelphia
for, fifteen OF twenty years, and returns to-day,
Will see great changes in many things, butin
none Will he witness a more striking revolution
than IN the APPEARANCE of the tipping shops. a
new class OF which has sprung up. A strange
name for a new article viii greet his eye at eY-
cry corner; nay, from almost every house, in
some quarqers, the mysterious words, .tLager.
Bler. will stare him in the fnce. Ifhe have the
curiosity to peep into one of these houses, he
viii ind sanded floor, few bare tables (if it
be one OF the smaller establishments, and a
counter or bar, behind which will be seen a cou-
pie OF barrels, with enormous brass spiggots and
a very German-l looking man, III apron and shirt
sleeves, with one hand resting upon one of the
spiggots wink or nod will be sufficient to
cause heavy glass mug to overflow with red
loamlng liquid, andcom sliding across the bar
towards him. He will taste, but the excessive
bitterness of the draught will almost disgust
MN; yet he will persevere to the end, and, from
that time forward, be an admirer of 'lagerl-
There IS something in it which settles so COM
tortably down under his ribs, and produces such
mid, cool, calming influence in his whole,sys.
TEN, that he will so away reioiced at his new
discovery. But at night he will witness the
great feature in this new tipple. He will per-
chance, have n call at the Post Office, and tho
sound of music, and the glare of many gas
lights, WILL attract him into the basement where
ne Will lind an immense room filed with an
immense crowd of men, sitting at an immense
number OF tables, with glasses before them,
all slipping and drinking, all talking and smok-
ing. and band playing in one corner, all the
while, the most inspiriting German airs The
immense number of attendants carrying i'm
mense numbers of trimming mugs of lager in
each hand, suggesting the idea that they must
have an immense number finers on each hand,
ana the immense numbers of corners and goers,
and drinkers at the bar, will interest and amuse
the Stranger for some time, while he makes one
OF the number of those who imbibe and listen to
the music. The quiet and order which prevail
here Will also surprise him, and he will wonder
not to lind somebody "getting drunk"
We had a conversation tho other day with
lady friend in relation to the evils of intempcr-
ance; some alllusion was made to lager beer, and
we suggested the fact that it was less intoxica-
ting than other drinks; she was shocked at the
very mention of the Teutonic beverage 'SThe
horrid stuff Surely none but low Germans ever
drink it; why, its very name is enough! IhaYe
always associated the idea ofevery thing that
| is low and vulgar with lager beer" We admit
ted that its name was enough to condemn it
amongst respectable people, inasmuch as lager
meant vaulted buried; aud therefore the
groundlings. should most estcemit But we told
her that many besides low Germans drank it,
and that large number of intelligent and quite
respectable Americans partake of it occa-
sionally; and that a German gentleman and tray-
eler had told us he had seen more lager beer
drank in Philadelphia than in anycity of Ger
many. How much, we thought, is there in a
name to commend mild, wholesome and pleas
ant beverage, when the ladywhom we was talk
ing with was living in Independence upon. q for
tune acquired by her husband in the manulac-
turc of porter, ale and table.beer; good, old
fashioned articles, bat far more heady and be-
muddling sthan the light hop drink Of the Ger
mans
We do not intend, however, to say word in
favor Of drinking of any kind; but we do think
that, when it's to be practsed, tits better to
use the most innocuous beverages; and that,
probably, large quantity of bad brandy, and
worse whisky, is kept out Of peoples stomachs
lin Philadelphia by the immense quantity Of
lager which is put into them.