The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-29
QUAINT BEER GROVES OF JAPAN.
They Are Rapidly SuppIanting Re-
sorts Where Tea Is Served.
From the San Francisco Pos

From the San Francisco Post.
The old romantic glories that cling to
the tea gardens of Japan are engaged in
serious struggle for popular favor with
the new-fangled beer groves that are
sDringing up by dozens and invading the
very localities where tea has reigned su-
preme for centuries.
Two miles out of the city of Kobe, along
a smooth road that forms probably the
most beautiful jinrchsha run in Japan,
you reach one OF these beer groves the
first that was established in the country.
The surrounding district consists of pic
tLresque succession Of native villas and
gardens and has long been a favorite Wis
itng place for tourists on account of its
possession of a picturesque waterfall and
two of the largest tea houses in that part
of japan.
Immediately across the road from the
entrance 40 one of these tea houses and
100 yards from the waterfall is the home
of the foamng glass" as they call it.
sign board over a gate skillfully made
of gnarled trunks of trees bears the fol-
lowing inscription:
To English and Generally Foreign: The
beer of this establishment is made with
most purest spring waters that flow. 1t
will be satisfied to the tastes in all re-
likeness TO each and every one. Inside
within we present samples of this purest
truth and can be tested at all times"
The interior, being japanese, was, of
course spotlessly clean and was beaut-
full with dozens of artistic little touches
so characteristic OF everything that these
quaint people do. Take an old-fashioned
German beer garden, strip il of everything
but the open-air idea and its little tables,
+Sn ho hnla x4yft n
graceful arbors covered with clemat:s,
paths of neat mating running in all di-
rections over the ground, cunning col
ored lanterns hanging from every trellis
corner and in place of bulky, white bos
omed walters, with heavy tread and wilt
cd collars imagine black-eyed, demure
little women clad in The brightest colored
komonos ever printed in the Yamatara
factories. ard you have some idea of a
Japanese beer garden.
Back of a lovely cluster of idagua
creepers that covered the further end Of the
trellis. where the Mattresses of the resort
disappeared every few momentsto fill their
orders we could see small shed almost
hidden in its turn with great punches of
wisteria. Here they kept the barrels, old
Amontilado sherry casks doing new duty
far away from their native Europe. In
little openings through the trellis you
the background looking so close In the
wonderfully clear air that they seemed to
be only a few miles from the tables
what will you have-large or small
glasses? No difference in the price"
one of the partners OF the establishment
asked US this, while the other stood srni-
ing lust behind him. Half Of the fun In
visiting a strange land is lost Il voL dent
take a chance" once in while We
ordered the largest When they came,
served on a lacquered tray by one "f the
barmaids, or rather garden MAIDS, % this
etheralized saloon, we found that they
we're not glasses at all, but large blue
and while bowls OH the breakfast rnush
order. but with handles on both sid ;.
And the beer itself proved rather a sur
prise TOO. II looked like the palest Kind
OF lager and the taste reminded one dimly
very dimly-of extremely alt sic.
Truly, these enterprising proDrletors
might advertise: Not a headache in
barrel" Strength II had none. and what
II lacked in that essential Is made up In
sugar and water The japanese are not
an Incorporate people, but If any of them
ever get desire to stray from the
etraight path they must have an interest
Ing time trying to accomplish their aim
nv patronzng home industry.
A bumblebee couldn't work up a decent
stupor on a hogshead Of 1t.