National Republican., 1874-07-01
SCHTETZEN LAST NIGHT.
NOME GENERAL IDEAS OF An OBJ
SERVING REPORTER.

GROUNDS AND IN TIE iA' ALAO-' ~
LADIES DRINK LAGER? YAH-Is HUG
GING IN THE DANCEH IF so, WHY
READ AND BE EDIFIED.
Last evening the great Schuetzen Verein was
in the prime and brilEancy of its life, and
taking the dusty Sevepth-street cars We ven
tured to the beautiful park, in company with a
miscellaneous crowd Of people, which Afforded
a larce amount Of food for speculation All
along the route there was perpetual hustle
and noise created by rattling hackney-eoaches,
cabs, omnibuses, gigs, private econyeyaDces-all
crsmmed and packed, until both vehicles and
horses Croan with the over-task, while the
multitude, blinded with thickly-fying dust,
iostled and knocked against each other,
laughed and talked, screamed and gossiPed,
until the scene presented one incessant uproar
of mirth and enthusiasm. Arriving at the
main entrance, a glance about convinced us
that Bacchus had already been enthroned' and
we were satisfied that the lager business was
lively with 4 good stock in trade. Presenting
our season ticket to little rotund, bare-headed
German, who was supporting his plumPti-
tudious shoulders against the entrance post,
and looking besrfully happy, we passed in.
A halfminute's walk brought US to the centre
of the grounds, and stopping upon plat OF
green sward to rest, we gazed about with
mingled feelings of pleasure and admiration.
There was nothing small or insignificant OF
stinted about the general appearance Of the
place whatever. Over the broad inclOsure, as
far as the eye could penetrate, sparkled and
blazed thousand or more quantity constructed
japanese lanterns, suspended from wires and
-, tb,e and frnp and the brill
liant light and dazzle Of these lit up scene
below which occurs once every year with
scarcely variation. Here and there, and on
every hand, are the busy beer-boOths, filed
with a variegated crowd Of noisy but happy
people. Around, in little nooks and quiet
places, are gathered small parties, who have
retreated from the uproar and clash and clamor
of the booths, and are thoroughly interested III
a plate Of ssndwiched sausages and mugs OF
refreshing beer. What do the girls drink
lager beer, did we sayl That's just what we
didn't say, but they do. Drink it ! well, we
should say So Take that isolated and quiet
corner wonder, for instance. There is Just
room for four on the rustic seat surrounding
the table, and every inch Of it is covered. Two
young ladies and two moustached gents. Look
a little closer. Are they German! No; all
are unmistakabIy American. The first is
rotund, chubby, winsome little creature, with |
black eyes and correspondingly dark hair, and
right beside her-closer, perhaps, than the
law of etiquette alIows-sits, squeezed, with |
scarcely elbow room, her partner. He is a
Jolly little follow, with two "stove-pipes"
aboard, and quite anxious to place himself
on the outside of another. The other
couple are OF the same description, only
a little more So, with variations Here |
comes the waiter: he is fat little fellow, with
q long dirty apron attached, the said garment, |
being stiff with the sediment of beer, flaps |
about his legs like wet flag in winter time. |
He saIutes the party with 'VGt will you have, |
ladies and shentlemens," at the same time |
bending his rounded little body in an effort to |
be obsequious. The jolly little fellow cocks his |
beaver on the back Of his head with swagger- |
ing swing, his chin and nose separate with
sharp smack, and "what'u you have" issues
from a very dry throat, simultaneously with q
nudge which he gives his merry little partner
in solicitation of a response. "Why, a stove
piIe Of lager, in course. I hope you didn't
think was going to take whisky, did youl'
she replies, with a hearty burst Of laughter,
which is taken up by the rest Of the party with
great good humOr. Then the fat little legs Of
the fat little waiter strike out towards an ad-
joining booth at q break-neck speed, and pre-
sently they come waddling hack, supporting
four stove-pipes brimming full Of the best
Cincinnati" or "Wilson's," which he places
upon the table with another painful attempt
to be etiquettish, and seizing the change he
4, ~, e |
ministering to the wants of other people, who
are impsticntly calling for "lager," "lager,"
on every side. Do our American girls drink
lager, did we sayl Well, we should think
so. At least it looks very much like it, when
two Of them greedily seize each pint of the
beverage, and after once having turned it to
their lips never take It away until they can see
stars through the bottom of the glasses, and
then slapping them down on the rough little
table, cry "more lager" Respectable girls,
too; thst is il chastity, education, society and
good standing in the community makes re-
spectability. They take nip" occasionally,
that's sure, and evidently it's none of your
delicate slipping nips either.
THE PAVILION.
While we were watching the laughable phys
ical contOrtiO2s of the fat, little waiter, as he
Eaddled about on his plump, little trotters,
eXerting himself to the utmost to please every
body in general and no one in particular, the |
band on the pavilion commenced a lively |
waltz, and We repaired to the scene of dancing.
And right here it would be very appropriate TO |
remark that the Thermometer was ranging at
eighty-nine and thought some of going 10 |
ninety. Ninety, and under q shade tree with |
ice-water handy, isn't so very disRgreeable; but |
take it on a pavilion crowded with diversified |
multitude, which is continually jostling and |
shutting and moving about, with pile of busy
fireworks cracking and bursting on one side, |
and very animated beer-booth on the other,
and you wont make up your mind very soon
that you are in an ice-house in midwinter with
no fannels on. If you do, DR.. Nichols could !
tell you something of interest. There seems |
TO be no head or leader on this field of mirtb |
and reTelry and stering-heatedness-all is |
free-and- -go-easy, ,dO-whst-your- a-mind-to, walk
in,and-enjo njoy-yOurself, and-if-you-can't, then |
enjoy her-fellow-or-his-girl. The latter
are generally enjoyed, and there's nothing sim
gular about it either. Who wouldn't. When |
the bail opens there is an unusual hustle. |
rushing TO and fro, skipping here and there, |
Q confused dashing and darting about, and |
some little time passes before the verdant spec
tetor can discover that quite tv thirds OF the |
entire crowd have got each other in their arms, |
and, hugging On for dear life, are whirling |
G9d swinging and buzzing around in all the |
animation Of lively round dance. About the |
time he finds this out, some couple, little |
more besr-iied and energetic than the rest, will
strike him at right angles about where her |
newspapers reside, and he Immediately retires |
to the railing of the pavilion and asks himself
few anxious questions about the general |
state Of his health, and the particular condi-
tion of his damned bunyons and mangled
corns."
Presently the music is hushed abruptly and |
many couples, which are 50 deeply absorbed in |
tie enchanting dance as to be totally oblivious
to surroundings, dodge and Whirl about until
they come IN contact with other parties and
are suddenly awakened to q sense of the situa- |
ton, and then drawing their pocket handker-
chiefs, they giggie, smile blandly and wipe |
their weeping brOws.
AGar - Co.