The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-24
BEER-DRlNKING.
The Extent to Which 1t Prevails Among
the Poor.

the Poor.
The remarkable consumption of beer
in Chicago by the poorer classes has OF
late been noticed by a clergyman, who
stated that over one-third of the beer
manufactured in this city was consumed
by the residents of tenement-houses,
flats and cheap hotels. The drinking
of beer is rapidly increasing, and the
winter weather has not materially les.
sened the demand. 1t has ALWAYS been
the custom among the laboring classes
to have quart of beer on hand to wash
down the midday meal. Now it is
customary to have beer for breakfast
and supper.
A reporter yesterday visited q sa-
loon contiguous to a tenement-house in
which eighteen families live, for the
purpose of Witnessing the consumption
of beer by the can. The visit was made
at the request of a clergyman, end the
sale was found to be large. The re-
porter was not on hand at the time
stated. but it was found that by ten
O'Clock in the morning forty-two quarts
of beer had been disposed of to the
residents of the tenement Gradually
the demand increased during the morn
ing hours, so that by noon the bar
tender hal disposed of his first half
barrel Little girls, four, five and six
years old, were the ones that got the
beer for their parents In many cases
the little ones were badly clad, and
more than once was seen the little toe
peeping from hole in shoe. The day
was cold; the little girls entered the sa-
loon with their teeth chattering. Their
hands were blue from cold, and on their
heads ere little shawls. In the saloon
were anumber of people playing pool
They jibed the little one for shooting
the can; the bartender took his money,
and the little girl the beer, and the men
resumed playing pool.
At four O. clock in the afternoon the
amount of beer sold to the inmates OF
the tenement was one barrel The re-
porter followed the next little girl to
find out the state of affairs in the ten
ement. The stairs leading to the place
were covered with snow and ice, and
frequently a dilapitatcd pan of ashes
was found. Persons of all national
tiles inhabited the place. One door was
opened by the reporter, who asked il
Mr. Smith resided there. He did not.
The inmates We're woman and three
children. The place was cold and dreary
looking. The water hydrant was frozen,
and the woman was endeayoring to
thaw it out by the means of o candle.
On the table was q half glassful of beer,
and near it was part of loaf of bread
Another room was visited, and there
were found three women drinking beer
and talking about their neighbors The
contents of the can were not suffi-
Gent to soothe The thirst of the women.
so the crowd Clipped in nickel apiece,
and three quarts more were purchased.
A general tour Of large rooms was sub
sequentlv made, and in every room
but one was beer.
The bartender was asked if he was
rnot afraid of being punished for selling
beer to oh ldren. He said that he gave
it to them at the request of their parents
and, as he knew all the children, he
was aware that it was not for themselves
but their parents.
Much of the beer sold to the poor is
of the worst quality. 1t is virtually
swill, and costs but $3.50 and 81 per
barrel. The best beer costs SO per
barrel CRiCdqO TTt6uQe.