The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-02
Is BEER MORE "GENTEELr
society Has so Decreed, and so II
Must stand.

From the Hartford Times.
'Who lives in that big house on the
hill?" the writer asked a stranger, when
walking down country road
"a gentleman Of the name Sudds, sir -
was the reply; land a very nice gentle
man he is, too. He comes, believe, of a
good family, and had a good education.
He is very much liked by the people about
here: he is so kind-hearted and thoughtful
for his poor neighbors."
rs he a wealthy man, theng'
"Oh, yes; worth a mine OF money, /
believe. Now I've answered your question,
sir, perhaps youll reply to one from me.
Why is beer moro genteel than soap.
why is beer more genteel than soap?
I'm afraid I don't quite understand you"
well, III put II another way. Why
Is person who has made a fortune by
selling beer more respectable than one
who has. made It by selling soap?"
But don't admit that he is"
"Ah! you evidently haven't lived much
in the country. Now, see here. The
country folks about here, as they call them
selves-that is, the tp-top people as you
may say--won't associate with that Mr..
Sudds, educated and polished gentleman
as he is. because he made his money in
soap. You may call that snobbery, buc
that though they won't have anything to
do with Mr.. Sudds, they don't hesitate
a bit to mix with the Bonifaces, the
Bungs and the Boozers, who all made
their fortunes out of beer. Now, why 10
that?"
Il am afraid cannot tell you: unless
they go by the rule of contraries. Soap
cleanses a man, but beer often leaves him
in the mire."
"Ha! Ha! You're quite right, sir That
5 ssan my the ep World but much as HepGR ike
glass of good beer, ! can't say the same
for maTt liquor. 1t has puzzled me for a
long time, and 1 can't get 10 the bottom
And the MN walked away in the OPP
posite direction, muttering to himself,
''Why is beer more genteel than soap?"
From day to day those words kept crop
ping up In the writer's mind, and each
time he tried to find solution to the
problem. But the more he pondered the
question, the more inexplicabie did 1t be-
come How could people possibly regard
soap, of all things, as taiDting mans
character, while beer is left spotless?
One morning, while 1athering his face
for shaving, the writer caught himself
mutterinR, why Is soap more disrep-
utable than beer?" In a fash, that al
most made him cut cash in his cheek,
an Inspiration came to him. It was ali
a delusion The man was fool or prac-
teal joker. People could not hold such
insane ideas. The writer would go and
He went and made inquiries Of coun-
try doctors and clergymen of his ac-
quaintance in the neighborhood. To his
surprise they all agreed that the man
was right in his premises, but could offer
no explanation. He therefore decided to
Interview one Of the most influential OF
the local landed gentry, a man of an
doubted high social position.
II have come to ask you a curious ques-
ton in strict confidence. Why is beer
more genteei than soapT'
The gentleman looked around the room
closed the door, and answered, in q melo-
dramatic manner: Don't for goodness
sake tell anybody / said So but for the
beer should be 50 much more respectable
than soGp-but II is!'