The sun., 1891-06-01
Tho Restoration OF Beer to the Boston
Music Hall.


Music Hall.
Tonight will he great night for Boston.
Tho reunion OF Beer and Music will be cele-
brated at the Music Hall. 1t may be two
years and 1t may be three since tho Bos-
tonians have been permitted to sit in that
solemn temple and regale their souls with
the playing Of an orchestra and their in
teriors with beer. In more primitive but
still recent, times the Great Organ was the
glory Of the Music Hall and wonder OF the tr-
montane city, and travellers from Tntnuck
and the uttermost parts Of Dukes and Barn.
stable heard that instrument and went home
happy. Where is that Great Organ now
Where Is the public taste which 1t was sup
posed to gratify7 The time came when
Boston couldn't be induced to go to the
Music Hall and hear the wind laundering
and sobbing IN those mighty pipes.
and crack peanuts stealthly. The
and broadened. and "China" or Federal
Street" played upon the Great Organ would
no longer be regarded In Boston as a satls-
flying entertainment.
So the organ was taken down, and series
Of summer popular concerts was given in
the Music Hall, and beer was allowed to DO
sold upon those sacred premises. A sigh Of
regret went up from the whole State at tho
deeecration. but tho desecration paid. wo
believe. while the Great Organ had been. In
the language OF the dramatic critics, an ar
tistlc success but q financial failure. Thet9
was some thing very attractive to the In
genuous Boston mind In going to these con-
certs. Tho music was good. but that was
not the charm. The new amusement seemed
80 delightfully."- wicked that Boston really be-
gan to fancy itself an earthly paradise some-
where between Dresden and Paris. Some OF
the straighter-laced waggad their heads
wisely, and wondered what Boston was
coming to. with Its fddling and boozing,
but many OF them went. perhaps in the un-
charitable hope that they would see some-
body the worse for beer, and be able to write
an indignant letter about 1t to the news
papers. perhaps for the sake OF studying
the depravity which in the minds Of many
good people is associated with the partner
ship Of music and beer.
The concerts went on prosperousy until
the Puritan sentiment OF Boston became
aroused. The Puritan sentiment can never
be happy II 1t sees some one else SO. an 1t
counts that day lost whose low descending
sun doesn't see 1t meddling with somebody
else's business. The Puritan sentiment de-
cided that music accompanied By beer was
immoral. SO the Music Hall could get no
license, and as music without beer has no
charms TO soothe the Boston breast, the
concerts were given up. A visit to Revere
Beach or clambake at Downer's Landing
became the chief diversion OF the town In
the warm months. There was great de-
preston among the gayer bloods. and much
complaint that the cost Of living had been
increased by the necessity Of going to New
York twice or three times instead Of once a
month. But what was to be done? Mas,a-
chnsetts was having one Of her periodical
Temperance drunks. Sngular.y enough.
while law was put upon the s.atuts books
to compel scdentary drinking. sedentary or
other drinking In the presence OF an orches-
ira was forbidden. The little tables In the
Music Hall vibrated no longer with the
psssion Of the big trombone and the olstter
Of beer slasssa This year. however. reason