The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-09-27
DRINKING IN PUBLIC.
Tho Days of Universal Tipping in All
Places Have Passed BY.

Places Have Passed BY.
A newspaper in a neighboring city
prints an interview with a saloon pro-
prietor of local note in which the opin-
ion is expressed that the best days of
the saloon as an institution have passed
away. This is not altogether improba-
BILE, though appearances in the larger
cities, in the neighborhood of popular
saloons, may be the other way.
1t requires close observation, contin.
ued for a length of time. to furnish sat
isfactory evidence whether there has
been a change in the extent and char
acter of saloon patronage or not. The
number of saloons in the large cities
has not diminished. 1t is not easy to say
whether their profits have diminished
or not; but it is certain that, with few
exceptions, no great fortunes are ac-
cumulated in the retail liquor ira file.
Has there been a change in the class of
person who constitute the patrons Of
the saloons?
To certain eXtenta striking change
has occurred in the classes from which
saloon patronage is derived. 1t Is more
noticeable in the old cities than in the
new, but it is noticeable everywhere.
New railroad and mining towns, and
towns in the new parts of the country
opening up to settlement, are not to be
taken as average specimens to show il
changes have occurred in the elements
of saloon patronage. Chicago is
fast" town, and perhaps represents
the saloon interest in its most flourish
ing condition, and is typical of the rela;
tons which. exist between the police
and the saloons.
Taking Chicago as a standpoint il
can be said with truth that the period
has ended in which the entire business
population, almost. t1ocl1ed to the sa,
looms at established hours of the day
for their drinks" Not many wears
ago it was the custom for almost every
business man to drop around at his
habitual place, regularly, more than
once day for glass of spirits. Bust.
ness and professional acquaintances
met in groups at the bar and drank to.
gether. The barkeeper knew each pa
irons favorite tap
Clerks and employees followed the
habits of proprietors and employers.
They had their select bars which they
patrOnized. At these hours customers
did not visit stores, warehouses and
offices. There was hiatus in bust.
ness. or it was discussed with the street
gossip, the weather and other subjects,
with the round Of drinks"
There has been revolution in this
that business men Of repute, careful Of
appearances, are seen drinking at the
bar of a saloon. If they take a drink
in that way it is at distance from
their places of business, or at the ''buf-
fet" of hotel, where they appear as if
they had accidentally dropped in to
meet one of the hotel guests.
Men who retain the habit of drink
ing in business hours seldom go in
pairs or groups to Il saloon for the pur-
pose. As a rule, each goes alone, I'M
obtrusiveiy, satisfies his thirst and
slips out as solitarilyhc slipped in. This
is unsociable, but it leads less to ex-
cess. 1t is not from parsimony, but
because drinking in crowds has ceased
to be the fashion
The saloons are not crowded with
citizens who go downtown in the even
ing to meet their friends and associates.
Except a little throng of customers
after the theaterS and except where
billiards and pool are in progress, tie
evenings at saloons are the dull part ST
the day.
Guests at the hotels patronize the
bars less than in former times. The
ante-breakfast cocktail is no longer
general and a matter of course. Going
drunk to bed, or even tight, is uncom-
mon. The guests at hotels in the main,
are on business errands and drink but
little. Business men away from home
and at home alike do not fuddle their
brains with drink when they have bus
mess requiring their attention.
Club drinking has not taken the
place of saloon drinking, Clubmen
drink as little as other people. But
few men drink at home. In ;he streets,
in business places, on the cars, at
hotels, but few men are seen whose
countenances are inhamed with liquor
A total abstinence reform has not
swept over the country. An immense
amount of liquor is consumed as bev-
erage. But the days of universal drink
ing, in all places, at all times, have
passed away, and better customs are
esta blished. Chicago Herald.