The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-17
ONLY A GLASS OF BEER.
WHAT 1T DID WITH AN IMAGINARY
AND SPECULATIVE REPORTER.
He Figures It Out that There Are Some
People in Memphis Who Daily with
the Foamy Beverage and Others Who
Make It's Sale Pay Handsomely.

Perhaps the Prohibitionists will throw up
their hands In holy horror at the statement
but the people of Memphis drink beer.
Perhaps II may be further and correctly
stated that they drink great deal OF II.
There was a time in Memphis, as dis
tnctiycly southern city, when beer was
frowned upon as nauscous beverage. The
German element, with whom the concoction
was as milk 10 the infant and caromels 10
the society belle, had not become sufficiently
numerous TO make the sale OF this drink
profitable. Whisky, gin, benzine and lem
onade were the ruling and refreshing slim
ulants. A great deal Of this was what is
commonly termed ''pinc top" "moonshine"
or other species Of economical manufacture
intended for family use, and TO set before
gathering of neighbors for some festive
event such as log rolling, house raising or
brush burning. IL also flowed at barn
dances, hog killing, camp meetings and such
like.
There was also in those days brewing in
dustry conducted by thrifty housewives,
the product being termed beer II was not
OF the regulation kind in use now days.
Hops and malt did not enter into the pro-
cess. Pcrsimmons, potato and apple peel
ings, along with other usually cast oil Incl
dentals 10 housekeeping, were thus turned
TO account These ingredients, dumped into
massive earthen jars, partially filled with
water, and allowed to stand during the
period OF fermentation, produced a most de-
lightful drink. Ii didn't exactly reach the
spot when IL came 10 tho male drinkers
hence was relegatcd TO the weaker sex and
timid Juveniles. However II bore the plain,
everyday name, beer" and those unfamil-
lar with its distinctive qualities will find II
difficult 10 concede that Il was not the regu-
lar old lager wasser.
During and Immediately after the war
there was heavy influx OF Germans and
their descendants, together with Americans
and other nationalitics who had formed
taste and burning desire for the foamy bcv-
erage, now enjoying an unprecedented run.
With them came the class whose mission IL
was TO dispense the liquid and garner shek-
els. Saloons spmng into existence ON every
corner aud at intermediate stands. Sumptu-
ously fitted bar-rooms were not 10 much the
style as at present All that demanded inn
mediate attention was board counter and a
few tin clippers, gourtls and cheap glnsscs-
. anything Ia hold half q dozen swallows Of
iRUf for i0cent shin plaster. At the same
tiiao due regard was paid 10 the heavier
drinks. Between these exhilarating spirits,
profits accommodated 10 the credit Of the
dispenser, who soon WED with each other In
holding out inducements for patronage.
Fancy bottles, decanters and glasses were
provided, 10 please the eye and tickle the
fancy while scorchng the stomach and
emplying the pocket. Size Of drinks was
also increased proportionately with well bal
anced lbcraliiy, until finally the present
magnificent resorts sprnng up.
Leaving out Of view the almost innumerable
mixtures % which a cosmopolitan populacc
pcrsistenlly yield obedience aud tribute,
take the one beverage, lager beer A recent
. tour OF the agencies controlling this market,
revealed the fact that not less than 10000
kegs are sold annually. 20 say nothing Of the
$1,000 or more packages or cases, which
means the bottled article. This, OF course,
includes shipments from here 10 neghbor-
ing towns, baTbecues and picnics, but the
grand total will not be decreased more than
onc-third, 10 say 10000 kegs, and 5000
packages. Figuring on the kegs alone, mt
an average 81 eighty glasses TO the key. there
are iGOOJDO glasses drawn every year for
local customers. Take an estimate another
way; With 1900 inhabitants men, women
and children. white and colored. each ono
would have about two and a half kegs for
his or her Individual use. OF course. every
citizen docs not consume his or her pro rata;
great many, In fact do not taste "the hor-
rid stuff" Others are merely periodical
samplers. This leaves n handsome surplus
for those exceedingly fond Of Il, and gives
them chanca 10 increase their aycrdupoisc
and tinted complexion percoptibly.
Viewed through another lens, how many
people can be made really happy on this
supply---luxuriously and horizontally
happy While two glasses may have this
effect upon one, II takes ten In another case.
Stacking the average Of five, II makes some
thing over 100000 As Memphis has not
that number Of Inhabitants by large ma
ldriiy, and many OF them never reach that
exubcmnt state nt all, then u follows that
n "A. A.
cents per glass, the supply would sum up
the princly gross income Of $500 600. Go Aay
nothing OF the revenue derived by the city
In fines aud rock pile labor. Tho subject IN
oil IT, branches affords rich field for spccu.
lation, which a daily newspaper writer had
best enter prepared 10 beat hasty retreat
aT ANNA AnAnRNy