National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-01
SUMNER DRINKS.
A Gossip Over che Bar-The Popularity of
Eager Beer,

A reporter of The REPUBLICAN ap-
preached the bar attached to one of the principal
hotels yesterday for the purpose of getting a
match from the bartender. While that individ-
ual was diving down into the depths behind the
bar in search of the match, the reporters eyes
wandered over the pyramids of shining glasses
piled up, with here and there a lemon coolly re-
posing amid their crystal masses, while from
the other end ofthe bar came the refreshing sound
ice tinkiing against the side Of the glasses The
reporter was hot and began to fell thirsty. The
glasses andthings leaked nighty cool and the bar
tender had GiSiecvcs rolled up ready for business
The J7oIeFed match was taken, but still the re-
porter fingered He wondered why he fingered,
yet still ne fingered. At last ne remarked to the
bartender Ill general sort OF way:
What are the faYoritc drinks this summer"
I" The same as last summer was the Sentcntious
rejoinder
Yes, bat vas so busiiy engaged in the temper
ance work last summer that did rot have time
to take anything but straight drinks, and carried
those with me; so give me soiae points as to the
drinks OF the season.
''Well, the best 1 can do f3r you is TO say that
they are the same as summer before last
"Nothing new III the line OF drinkables TO
smooth ont lilcs burning pathway during the hos
sPcli?'
No: there is nothing new this year, and there
ilS2z DSSL = lil4GN lltlh CtCt it' AOLS Gas.
The genius for inyentiag new combinations and
connections has died out. But the Old drinks are
good enough. The time and attention which has
been given TO tie perfection of the art has placed
il far in advance OF the world and il can afford TO
wait until the world catchesup with it. Thcsecret
of good drink lies not so much in the materials
Of which it IS composed, bat the skill with which
it is compounded
The bartender was bGsiiy engaged while he
talked i'll putting several things in a glass, fol-
lowed by 4 handful OF ice, and then, string the
contents ofthc glass vigorously, &c placed it Oh the
counter.
We'll but don't people get tired Of tho old
drinks"
"No, they don't seem to. Now, take that drink
you hold in your hand fsr exa1a2,e.r The re-
porter locked and saw with assoniShnent that his
fingers had entwincd themselves unconsciOusly'
about the glass. "That is aclarct pinch AMI enc
Of the most popular OF the mixed drinks for sum
mer. II has been for years, ana always will be.
Then there is gin fizz and milk punch and
others that might bementioned. Taking the whis-
kies, wines, and braudies The asis these yaric-
ties of combinations can be repeated SO that the
complete list Of fancy drinks is vcry large one"
"What do the jedgcs AMI kernels drink this
hot weather.
They don't pay very much attention to the
weather, but continue to take their straight drinks
as before. Only, perhaps, they limit the number
But they don't like fancy drinks. There is too
much fuss and feathers and too little of the solid
substance TO suit Them"
How is beer?'
"The regulars don't take % beer except as side
issue which has nothing whatever to do with the
regular programme. But beer is very popular. and
in summer is the leading drink. The mixed
drinks arc neglected for this popular beverage,
and 50 are the stronger liquors. Beer is popular
with the young man. 1t suits his pocket and also
his head; besides tits presented with the attractive
acceSSCns of gardens and music and excursions,
which are superior in summer al least to the or
binary bar
What do you think of this popular summer
beverage, beer?"
81 think that there is entirely too much of it
drank 1t is not as fiery other liquors and does
not make men drunk as soon, bu: it makes them
dull and s0ggy. month or so Of beer-drinking
will make a great change in persons appear
ance. They become bloated, their eyes become
heavy, aud they are stupid il conversation. Beer
is not what it is cracked up to be- but is sold
now in this city than ever before. It's cheapneSs
is what makes it popular, and a man with little
money can make it go great way on a beer
spree"
81 suppose you have a good many of the De-
partmcnt clerks about lunch time? What do they
drink"
"That depends on their salary. Most Of them
take beer, but good many call for srnashes cock
tails, and caret punches. But straight whisky is
popular drink, although it is hot weather. With
ice it is COOL and at the same time stimulating,
which is the main object of the midday nip r!
At this juncture three men anchored themselves
in front ofthe bar, and, Wpng their brows, called
for one beer and two WHISTLES, and the bartender
Few about to fill the order. The reporter gazed
down into the mass Of ice in the bottom of the
glass in front Of him and wondered what had be- |
come Of the ruby liquid with which it had been
ied, deposited twenty cents on the counter,
hosicd his cotton umbrella, and sailed forth on