The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-06
We have Black Taffeta Silks that we guarantee to wear
A JAPANESE BEER GARDEN.
[From LAD Chicago Times-Herald.

From the Chicago Times Herald
In the mikado's kingdom to the north
part of the price they pay for the ben
efits and advantages of civilization is
a constantly increasing and plebeian
taste for beer. Whisky, rum, gin and
like beverages they care little for. A
very good illustration of the difference
between the way the Chinese and the
japanese are accepting foreign ideas is
found in the fact and it is emphasized
when one realizes that the little brown
man is not content to take direct what
foreigners have brought him, but has
started out to make his beer for him
self. And.the old romantic glOrieS that
cling to the tea gardens of Japan are
engaged in a serious struggle for pop
ular favor with the neWfangled beer
groves that are springing up by
dozens and invading the very localities
where tea has reigned supreme for CEN
turtles.
Two miles out of the City of Kobe,
along a smooth road that forms prob
ably the most beautiful jinricksha run
in Japan. you reach one OF these beer
groves, the first that was established
in the country The surrounding dis
sion of native villas and gardens and
has long been a favOrite visiting place
for tourists on account of its posses
sion of a picturesque waterfall and two
of the largest teahouses in that part of
Japan.
Immediately across the road from the
entrance of one of these teahouses, and
100 yards from the waterfall, is the
home of the fOaming glass" as they
call it. A signboard over a gate skill
fully made of gnarled trunks of trees
bears the following 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 respect, and our prOprietors
guarantee politeness to each and every
one. Inside within we present samples
of this purest truth, and can be tested
all times
The interior, being japanese, was, of
course. spotlessly clean, and was beau
/ tiful with dozens of artistic little touch
es so characteristic of everything that
these quaint people do Take an old
fashioned German beer garden, strip it
/ of every thing but the open air idea and
. its little tables. and then fill up the
whole space with graceful arbOrS COW
( cred with clematis. paths of neat mat
ting running in all directions over the
ground. cunning colored lanterns hang
/ ing from every trellis corner, and in
I place of bulky white bOsOmed walters
( with heavy tread and Wilted collars i'm
| agine black-eyed. demure little women
/ clad in the brightest cOlored komonos
/ ever printed in the Yamatara factories
and you have some idea of a Japa-
/ nese beer garden
creepers that covered the farther end of
the trellis where the mattresses of the
resort disappeared every few moments
to fill their orders we could see a small
shed almost hidden in its turn with
/ great punches of Wisteria Here they
/ kept the barrels old AmontilladO sherry
/ casks doing new duty far away from
their native Europe In little openings
through the trellis you could catch
7 glimpses of the foothills in the back
ground looking so close in the wonder
fully clear air that they seemed to be
only a few yards from the tables.
What viii you have-largest or
small glasses2 No difference the price"
One Of the two partners of the estab-
lishment asked us this while the other
stood smiling just behind him. Half of
the run IN visiting a strange land is lost
IL you don't take chance" once in a
while. We ardered the largest. When
lney came, served on a lacquered tray
by one of the barmaids or rather gar
demands of this etherealized saloon we
found that they We're not glasses at Sll,
but large blue and white bowls on the
breakfast mush order. but with handles
on both sides. And the beer itself prov
ed rather a surprise too. 1t looked like
the Lalest kind of lager and the taste
reminded one dimly, very dimly, OF ex-
tremely fiat ale.
Truly these enterprising proprietors
might advertise. mot a headache in a
barrel" Strength it had none, and
what il lacked in that essential it made
up IN sugar and water. The Japanese
are not an Incorporate people, but ii
any of them ever get a desire to stray
/ from the straight path they must have
an interesting time trying to accOmp-
lsn thelr aim by patronizing home in
dustry.
A bumblebee couldn't work I'D a de-
cent stupor on a hogshead of it.
r DENVER, COLORADO SPRINGS