The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-03
Beer Drinking.
The Extent to which it PrevuiIs Among
the Poor.
Chicago Tribune.)

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 residents of
tenement houses, fats and cheap hotels
The drinking of beer Is rapidly increasing,
and the winter weather has not materially
lessene6 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 saloon con-
tiguous to tenement house in which IS
families live for the purpose of witnessing
the consumption of beer by the can. The
visit was made at the request Of a clergy
man, and the sale was found to be large
The reporter was not on hand at the time
stated, but it was found that by 10 o'clock
in the morning 42 quarts of beer had been
disposed OF to the residents of the tenement.
Gradually the demand increased during the
morning hours, so that by noon the bar
tender had disposed of his first half-barrel.
Little girls, 4, and 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 saloon with
their teeth chattering. Their hands were
blue from cold, and on their heads were lit
tie shawls. In the saloon were number of
people playing pool. They jbed the little
ones tor shooting the caR;' the bartender
took the money, the little girls the beer, and
the men resumed playing.
AT 4 O'Clock in the afternoon the amount
OF beer sold to the inmates of the tenement
was one barrel. The reporter followed the
next little girl to find out the state of affairs
in the tenement. The stairs leading to the
place were covered with snow and ice, aud
frequently dilapidated pan of ashes was
found. Persens of all nationalities inhabit-
ed the place. One door was opened by the
reporter, who asked if Mr.. Smith resided
there. He did not. The inmates were
woman and three children. The place was
cold and oreary looking. The water by
drant had frozen, and the woman was en-
deaYoring to thaw it out by the means of
candle. On the table was half glassful of
beer. and near it was part of a loaf of
bread.
Another room was visited, ard there were
found three women drinking beer and talk
ing about their neighbors. The contents of
the can were not sufficient to soothe the
thirst OF the women, so the crowd Clipped
IN nickel apiece and three quarts more
were purchased. A general tour of the large
place was subsequently made, aud in every
room but one was beer.
Ihe bartender was asked il he was not
afraid of being punished for selling beer to
children. He said that he gave it to them
at the request of their parents, aud as he
knew all the children, he was aware that it
was not for themselves, but their pare nts.
Much of the beer sold to the poor is of the
worst quality. 1t is virtually swill, and costs
but So 80 and $4 per barrel. The best beer
costs 50 per barrel.