, 1880-02-22

Are we becoming Germanized? Is Gemt3s
ichkeit, which dozen years ago could only
be found at commerz, in German gardens,
OF at sangerfests, becoming an American
characters tic? Is the Teutonfc social econ~
omy slowly but surely undermining our Pu-
ritanic rigidity? It would appear SO. The
figures are appalllng.t,-The internal revenue
statistics show that 49,, 4oa $50 gallons Of
beer were consumed last gear in the United.
States, averaging ten gallons for every man,
woman, and child, without regard to color,
sex, or previous condition Of se1yitude- No
will assume, however, that our population
amounts to 100000. From this number,
deducting 100000 unhappy negroes who
never get beer, 10000, coo children. ao0.om
women who drink tea and other things md
few millions of men In the far West 4h
South who are beyond the fsothermal lines OF
beer, and in New England where people get
giddy only on water and cider, We hare IN
actual average Of about forty gallons, or
nearly barrel, for each individual IN mo
fortunate remainder. Coming down to md,
viduals, there are cases where man and MS
wife, whose domestic relations are happy ana
there Is no cheat in the measure, dispose o.
three gallons per week comfortably.
German music long ago usurped the lons
share Of our programs. During the last 1eW
years German composers have outnumoefeo
all others III the proportion Of ten to one In
our concert-rooms. Our ladies' CLUBS az
reading papers ON the philosophers OF hanh
Hegel, and Schopeuhauer, and discussing
them with the avidity they would display III
dissecting the last new mode OF social sensar
ton. But there is nothing which 50 clearly
and unmistakably indicates this great social
change as beer. Twenty-Five years ago Deer
was shpcking. Ten years ago 1t was couh-
tenanced, but still was considered vu|gar'
Five years ago the average American family
surrendered to Its insidious Influences oas
procured it in a stealthy manner, slipping
out by night with pitcher, unaa
cover Of the darkness, or oroet'
ing 1t in sealed boxes. Now ing
bottled-beer wagon rattles up to tao
front gate with all the boldness OF the go.
cery-cart OF the pomp of the gilded chai'o'
families in this city 1t has become stape
article, and there is grief in the housenolo
when the careless servant negiects to ha'e
the case repienished. 4 few years ago
was only the American male being VINO 4lT
sisted upon his beer with his dinner. NOW
however, the American female being has SUI.
rendered to its charm, and calls for her DEE.
at dinner with an intensity that demanoe
recognition OF involves trouble, and oe1ole
retiring reiterates that demand with al1 .no
ferceness Of her nature, as the only seoau'e
that will give her rest and preserve peace ~
the family. # the statistics of the beersuppH
to American families alone we're known taeJ
would appai the American Temperance
society. They would be in despair az ~
growing contempt for water and TIE los7 "
confidence In tea that Is displayed In Amer
can homes. There is no question tha' l,9
music Of the teapot singing on the hea1tn -
fast losing its charm, and that the a'elaso
heart even If it does no. -
gard it with the disgust OF Eec1es'
at least has grown cold in Its ie'
lions to tea, and no longer wakes sar1uio".
over the cup that cheers. Whether IL u
question of the greater intensity OF Inc aha
and disiikes of woman or merely OF ret0@..
capacity is uncertain, but the fact cannos ~
disputed that woman Asserts "
superiority to man in the consnmpl1on =.
beer as in nearly every other duty Of HE
IS curious inconsistency that, while amons ,1e
men the big, hale, and robust ones a1e 10
most successful beer-consume1s, an'ouo -
women the highest degree OF suece"
achieved by the little, delicate, fras1ie' ~ w.
,pirituelh creatures, who easily Tanqatan ~
heir Amazonian sisters; and also thas ",lue ~
he robust woman, in the full bloom OF aesua,
,rors quiescent and metaphysicallyr refeeu.o
Ifter the first glass, and goes to sleep On ~