St. Paul daily globe., 1893-11-28
THE BEER WARDS.

There is an ancient legend, with
nutty flavor (chestnutty, perhaps), of
the owner and commanding officer OF a
boat on the Wabash canal giving to his
factotum the chief engineer of the mo-
tive power-S25, accompanied by in
structions to buy supplies for the ap-
preaching voyage. When the mule
driver had returned, the skipper asked
if he had discharged his commission.
The boy replied in the affirmative.
What did you buy?" asked the captain.
"Twenty-four dollars worth Of whisky,
and a dollars worth of Bread" was the
prompt answer. "Thunder!" calculated
the captain, ''What on earth do you
expect to do with so much bread?'
One is irresistibly .reminded Of this
story when reading of the recent awards
made by Mr.. Thacher's department of
the Worlds Columbian exposition. 1t
seems that Mr.. Thacher was authorized
to issue in the aggregate $4,000 medals.
Having gotten into the habit of dispens-
ing these valuable mementoes of the
worlds thrift and business enterprise,
the breezy Mr.. Thacher continued to
pour them out of his mint with gen.
erosity that approximated recklessness,
until brought up with round tuln by
the board. At the last account more
than $4,000 had been issued.
Now, if we are to judge by the re.
ports and advertisements In the news
papers, a majority of this number have
been presented to the brewers of the
world. Nearly every beer manufactory
in America, not to speak of Europe,
Asia and Africa. seems to be printing
an engraved fac-simile of its particular
medal issued by Mr.. Thacher, while for
weeks the press association reports
have blossomed with telsgraphic an
nouncements of medal awards to all the
known breweries of the world, and
some that might have been using all the
hops. malt and barley produced in the
entire system of sirius for all that the
average reader knew or cared.
The medals awarded to flour, corn
meal and the various products of food
grains. seem to have been very moder-
ate-fully as conservative. in fact, as the
purchase of bread by the canal boat
steward, until one is prompted to follow
the example of Prince Hal while exam
lining the lunch bill of Sir John Falstaff,
and protest against this 'intolerable
supply of sack"
There were, probably. other forms of
human industry made manifest at Chi
cago during the past summer besides
that Of transmitting nourishing starch
and palatable saccharine matter into
patent nerve destroyers and swelled-
head inducers. But, if SO, why did not
the active and efficient Mr.. Thacher
affirm them with some degree of en-
phasis approximatiDg the beer awards?
The GLOBE has no quarrel with beer,
or the manufacturers of that genial and
seductive tipple. Doubtless it is more in
nocent and innocuouS, and less disaS-
trous in the aggregated consequences of
Its abuse, than any other form assumed
by alcohol. 1t is even probable, as
claimed by many Of its votaries, that it
conduces to comparative temperance by
displacing the stronger and more de-
structive products of the distillery. The
grip upon mankind held by stimuIants,
it is hoped and believed by optimistic
writers and thinkers,is weakening, and
possibly the general use of malt liquors,
where they can be introduced and made
to take the place Of whisky, brandy or
gin, might be encouraged with positive
advantage to society.
But what the public has the right to
protest against is the undue and over
shadowing prominence given to the
brewage products of the civilized and
barbarous world at Chicago. Beer and
ale and porter may be harmless, or even
benefcent in certain degrees at certain
times. The manufacture and consump-
ton of malt liquors is not the only, or
even the chief end of man. Mr.. Thacher
and the national commission of awards
should be educated up to the standard
of comprehending that they have over
looked other and higher and more
righteous forms Of human industry in
their subservient haste to put the brand