The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
BEVERAGES OF THE NATIONS.
Beer q Sign OF Civilization, but Beware
the Impure Article.

the Impure Article.
Beer follows the flag Of civilization. says
What 10 Eat. 1t is drunk to the greatest
extent in thiokly populated, highly civ
ilized communities.
In wild, uncouth countries. among the
lumber and logging camps, in the isolated
mining districts and among the sevages
whiakay and other highly Intoxicating
beverages are drunk to the greatest ex-
tent and beer Is almost unknown. Last
year the United States consumed more
than ffty-four million barrels Of beer.
twenty-one times as much as in 1853.
The countries furttest advanced in
civilization are England. France, Germany
and the United States. These four countries
also nave the most pronounced taste for
beer, England coming first. Germany
second, the United States third and France
fourth. But France makes up for the small
ness Of its beer consumption-s gallons
per ~capita-by its enormous use Of mild
wines, Of which it consumes 20 gallons a
year per capita.
Each person in England drinks about
forty gallons Of beer and ale a year. In
Germany the beer consumed last year was
an average Of thirty gallons for each in
habitant.
In certain Of the more populous districts
Of Germany the per Ct pita consumption
is far in excess Of this. For instance, in
Bavaria, the average mount Of beer drunk
by each man, woman and child is sixty-two
gallons a year; in Wurtemburg it is forty
seven gallons and in Baden it is forty
two gallons,
The mission Of beer is gradually to replace
the stronger and more injurious distilled
beverages. 1t is the product Of ages OF
study and scientific endeavor toward this
very end. A thousand years Of experiment
ing and research in Germany ana America
have produced the modern beer. the most
perfect and the most healthful beverage
known. 1t comes nearer giving the effect
of e~xhilaration without the bad after effect
than any other drink in the world.
II is an improvement on the ole OF Eng
land and the acme of perfection in the
brewing OF malt liquors. The. person who
learns 10 dHnk beer does not care for
strong drinks. In the German districts,
three times as much beer as in America,
there is not half the drunkenness there
as in America. In Germany IL is con-
sidered no more improper for young girls
to 90 together or alone and sit down at a
beer table n drink one or more glasses OF
beer than for girls in America to drink
beverages at the soda fou ntain.
Beer contains the smallest amount of
alcohol Of any exhilarating beverage known
only 4 per cent, A single t~easpoonful
Of patent medicine often contains more
alcohol and other injurious drugs than
a whole barrel of beer. Whiskey con-
tains so per cent. or more OF alcohol, rum
n per cent, claret 9I per cent. and cider
9 per cent. According 10 those figures
there IL decided nconsistenoe shown by
people who think IL is perfectly proper to
drink cider. but very immoral 10 drink
beer.
The writer Ct the article above quoted
admits that he Is talking about pure beer.
But | regret to say" he goes on. that all
beer is not pure and that some has DISASTROUS
effects on the drinker and is a source OF
crime and dsgeneraCy.
"Salicylic acid is the main secret by
which these vile connections are MANY
faotured. Burned sugar (carameD IL added
an Intoxicating agent which will give an
appearance OF strength to the beverage;
quassia 70 impart bitterness In place OF
hops; grain Of paradise and cayenne pepper
20 communicate pupgenoy; corander and
caraway seeds 10 yield flavor; ~licorce,
treacle and honey to supply color n
Conscience. To stale beer there lie some
times added green vitriol (sulphate Of iron)
or alum and common salt. which when
agitated with the beer communicates a
hne cauliiower head.
why people will drink II 10 a mystery.
Its watery body and it's chemically pro-
The national pure food law has no eject
in preventing it's sale. for such beer il al
ways made at some nearby establishment
In the same State. The national food law
has no bearing on products sold IN the same
State in which they are manufactured"