The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-31
Does Lager Beer IntOXicatG?-Diary
of a Man Who Tests il.
the Philadelphia Sunday Transcript

q luCSNAOu " AlC44 llctS AEACtA Slllc NOAL u
for years-courts and communities being
divided upon it. As a scientific expert
ment and for the purpose Of satisfying ny
mind upon the subject I went among the
beer gardens and beer saloons yesterday,
keeping journal Of my progress, which I
herewith append:
9 a. M-Teok a glass Of lager at a
Third street saloon. Exceedingly cooling
to the system 1t diffuses a gentle and
agreeable exhiIaration throughout the
brain.
9.05 a. M.-Took another glass, with
brown bread, salt and cardamon seeds.
Thoughts run in agreeable channels. Dis
posed to look Ieniently upon the frailties
Of humanity. Wouldn't REFUGE to receive
cash in full from a debtor, or force money
upon man l owed. Pat the head of a
little Dutch baby that toddIes by me.
Am carried back in imagination to the
days of my youth (Which the nights of
my mature years had put out Of my head,
.somewhat). | remember my early love,
and muse in kindly vein (aIl in vain y
upon the morning of my exiStance Had
had some annoyances IN the morning which
vanished with the froth of the beer, and
soma lifelong troubles went with them,
for time, at least.
9.IO a. M-Took another glass, Joined
by a friend. A kindly feeling toward the
friend. l allow hun to pay for the beer,
however, retaining my presence of mind.
We INDUCED in cheerful conversation. I
become eloquent on German literature
Quote from Goethe, Schiller, and glow at
the mention of Rembrant
Other friends enter. l allow them to
pay for the beer also.
10 AM-I call for more beer and tell
the bar-keeper that he is sin" Asked a
stranger to '.join us" Another member
Of the party calls vociferously for "hard
boiled eggs" l check him, and feel a
sympsthy for man who shows his beer "
1890 A. M.-We have INDUCED in more
beer. Disposition on the part of some to
tell old anecdotes, at which the party
laugh inordiDately. The bar-keeper Smiles
at our expense. Some one Propotes that
we go up Vine street. Another glass OF
beer and We 60. .....--...- .-..
II o'clock, a. M.-Shook hands with
every acquaintance we met on the street
coming here. Remember patting one or
two very particular friends on the back,
and urging them to ego long" Gave a
newsboy twenty-five cents for a morning
paper that [ bad read and declined to take
any change back. Had a glass of beer.
12M.-The party gets larger and thLler
All talk together, as general thing.
Through some perfectly inexplcable pro-
cess, beer mugs that were empty at one
moment, stare me in the face at another
moment full. Some one calls for cigars
One man in the party looks pale, becomes
silent and nedltatiye, and then makes his
feeble way towards the back yard, from
which retched sounds proceed.
/ P. M.-We are Auver the Rhine"
though | have little recollection about com
ing here. Think We stopped twice on the
way and drank beer One mar has left
the party. He said he had cuisines" to
attend to. Remember feeling sort of
admiration for the man who had the nerve
to leave party and GO about his business.
Wished | had some business, and had the
nerve TO go about it Thought there was
a bare possibility that | drank too much
beer. Concluded to have some more beer.
2 P. M.-More beer. Some Of us leave
half a glass undrunk, while Others order
"kline" glasses. One man Switches off,
on whisky, and another stakes a cigar in
his'n."
$50 P. M.-Another round I tell nv
stories over twice, and just as reach the
point in the story friend breaks in with
that reminds me Of little incident" dc.
3 P. M.-As near as | can recoliect |
called for more beer One man in the
party, who had been very boisterous up to
that moment, grows suddenly silent, his
head drops over on his shoulder and he
goes to sleep. Another man sings a song.
We all join the chorus without any partic-
uiar regard to key. More beer
$50 P. M.-~Sixty-six" is introduced.
We play for the beer and the beer contin-
ues to play the deuce with US. Two or
three suspicious looking strangers whom
we wouldn't admit to our fellowship under
other circumstances. worm themselves into
the party. They laugh extravagantly at
all my stores, and call for beer which is
applied to my account
p. M-A man who has been silently
drinking his beer for some time, suddenly
breaks out in violent denunciation of some
Individual who Is absent, and whom none
Of US know. We Immediately sympathize
with him, and proceed to denounce the alb
sent individual with great warmth, all
talking together. More beer.
NJ sing song, forgetting the
third line in the second verse, and nearly
90 to sleep in irving to recall it.. 7oT