The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-28
BEER AT PRINCETON.
The Famous Inn Is an Experiment in
Practical Temperance.

Brooklyn Eagle.
The Princeton Inn case has had no
toriety thrust upon it which is in excess
of it's Importance. 1t illustrates however,
the liveliness of interest which there is in
the subject of official recognition by the
friends of college of the fact that the
students drink beer. We believe that pres
byterieS have passed resolutions denounc-
ing the university for engaging in the liquor
business and that many good people have
been offended by what they think is the
universities approval of the sale of light
drinks. The Rev. Archibald A. Murphy,
Princeton graduate, explained the relation
of the inn to the university in a sermon
in his church in New Brunswick on Sunday.
The facts which he presented were known
to everyone familiar with the case, but the
members of his congregation were evident
ly ignorant of them or he would not have
devoted a sermon to the subject Let
look at them:
In the first place, the inn has no official
connection with the university. 1t was
built by some alumni who believed that
there should be in the town a place at
which the students could gather where the
influence would be good and where they
could drink openly what beer they wanted.
1t was an experiment IN practical temper
ance which has vindcated itself. I'm the old
days the students, when they wanted beer,
went to the saloon in the town. Now when
they want beer, they go to the inn, where
it is served with meals in the dining room
or served alone in the grill room. There
is no bar, but there is a pleasant room,
with tables scattered about, that is a place
enness has decreased since the experiment
and college spirit has been strengthened. A
Presbyterian minister, who is a member of
the university faculty, has signed the petit
ton for renewal of the license of the inn,
and we believe that this is the extent of
its official connection with the university
itself. The minister has been denounced by
men who have not thought far enough to
understand that the minister was on the
ground and was familiar with the inn and
It's effect on the students and would not
countenance an institution whose influence
was bad They have forgotten to give to
him the credit of good motives. 1t would
have been wiser If his critics had assumed
that the fact that the inn was Endorsed bv
this man was proof that there was much to
be said in it's favor.
We should not be surprised to learn that
some of the good Presbyterians who OBJ
ject to the sale of beer in the inn are in
the habit of drinking cider in their own
homes. There is a great difference between
beer and cider, in their opinion. Cider comes
from apples and IS, therefore, harmless
They have seen 1t made and know all about
II. Beer is sold Ia large quantities by brew
ers, who grow rich, and it is drunk in
saloons. Therefore it is bad. We believe
that the average amount of alcohol in cider
is Sc per cent, while beer contains but
per cent OF the two beer is less intoxicat-
ing. But the objection of cider drinkers to
beer is one of the curious Inconsistencies
and must be reckoned with by church au-
ihoritleS. We would adviSt the church peo-
pie, however, TO let the Princeton Inn alone.