Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-12
in A BIG BEER HALL
Francis Murphy Talks Of
Temperance in His Char
acteristic Manner.
HIS AUDIENCE ATTENTIVE,
Although More Liquor Than Elo-
quence Is Generally on Tap
AT AN OVER-THE-RHINE RESORT.
The Freuuenters of schumann's Music Gar
den, Cincinnati,
HIS AUDIENCE ATTENTIVE,
AT AN OVER-THE-RHINE RESOR'
The Frequenters of schumann's Music Gar
den, Cincinnati,
TREATED TO SOMETHING NEW TO THEM


| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPATCH.1
| CINCINNATI, Nov. 11.-"Over the Rhine"
is to Cincinnati much what the ''Tender-
loin' district is to New York. There ar 9
the big concert halls and beer halls, where
hundreds gather under myriad lights, and
beer literally flows in rivers. Here con-
gregates the half world, young people just
started on the wrong road, older ones with
shame stamped in glaring characters on
every feature, the old roue, the callow
youth. And here, too, come the sightseers,
the man -around-town and the summer.
All about the big halls. with their prodi-
gality of light and decorations, music and
enticing features, are scores of smaller
places, more vicious but crowded, too, like
their luxuriant fellows, with surging
throngs; only these latter are some degrees
lower in the scale, the attractions are less
brilliant, the beverages of e cheaper quality
and the decorations very much more on the
tawdry order.
OF the big halls, the biggest, and perhaps
the toughest, is Peters. know to many as
Schumann's Music Hall. 1t runs from Vine
street clear through to Jackson street. 1t
is gorgeously finished in white and gold,
hundreds of handsome tables crowd its
floors, gas and electric lights make the
place brilliant, a fine orchestra is in attend
ance from P. NJ. to midnight, and between
numbers some of the best speciality per-
formers in the country appear-and all is
given for the price of q drink.
Everything Proper on the Surface.
On the surface all is quite proper, for no
disturbance is tolerated, but anyone with
the price of o beer can participate 1t is
this seeming propriety that makes the place
dangerous. Murder has stained the floors
of this big, clean-looking hail. and other
crimes have been often committed.
1t was to this place, crowded to its doors,
that at 10 o'clock tonight Francis Murphy
went to deliver a temperance address. With
him went big volunteer choir of men and
women, many of the latter young ladies.
They saw for the first time the interior of a
beer hall. They looked at hundreds drink
ing-for the bar was not closed, and the
walters passed by in ever-hurrying ranks to
serve their orders.
The orchestra gave way to the choir, and
the piano that never before sounded 10
sacred music gave out its sweetest notes
while the walls rang to Where is My Boy
To-night?" "Why Not Now?" and other
tender songs, that never before had been
heard there.
Mr.. Murphy's Touching Remarks.
There was wonder on many faces, tears on |
some. Many girl left her wine untouched, |
and even the barkeepers and walters stopped |
to listen.
Then Mr.. Murphy stepped to the front of |
the platform and was greeted with the |
heartiest applause. He spoke ten OF fifteen |
minutes, in his usual style, and then intro |
duced his son who spoke briefly. Mr.. |
then started to say good night, |
when some one in the crowd said: "Why |
don't you take a collection?"
II will" replied Murphy, 'if Mr.. Pc
ters will consent"
MI. Peters said, 'Go ahead" and the
was taken. Mr.. Peters, the pro-
prIetor of the place, asked Mr.. Murphy to
60 on, and the speaker told pathetic war
story that aroused, first, tears, then cheers
that echoed and re-echoed until the build
ing shook. After kindly invitation to
come and hear him at the Odeon, Mr.. Muir
ply said "Good night" and started to 90,
but hundreds pressed forward to shake
hands.
The crowd was orderly in the extreme,
and Mr.. Murphy was frequently applauded,
ind as he left the hall was given three
hearty cheers. Ten minutes later the or
,hestra was playing blonde dancer was
,icking higher than her head and beer
lowed like water.