BEER DUELS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7752, 22 July 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

BEER DUELS.

HUN WHO DRANK 100 MUGS A DAY. The beer-drinking capacity of U, O Germans is proverbial. To quote Urn. ry do Halsuile, the author of “Degenerate Germany” (Werner La uric) “The German beer-drinker drinks hoggishly; he drinks not to slake nis thirst, but afterwards to boast of lij s capacity in swilling gallons of liquor. M. II a Isa lie relates how tho Munich newspapers, not long ago, recorded with appreciation tlio death of an old man of eighty who had often been known to drink 100 mugs of beer (about ninety pints) in one day. In the same town there is a beershop which became famous some time ago through a noted hc-er drinker attending there regularly at noon. Crowds of persons would assemble to watch his performance. Having placed twelve mugs of beer on a table in front of him as the clock of an adjacent church began to strike twelve the beer swiller would gulp down tlu* contents of a mug at each stroke of the clock. Hearty cheers greeted him; to consume twelve mugs of beer while the dock strikes twelve is something to be proud of —in Germany. In Berlin a student was introduced to M. Halsalle, who h?ld the accord for drinking the largest amount 0* beer without taking breath. It is quite a common achievement in (formally to drink one and three-quarter pints without taking a breath, but this student could drink three and a quarter pints without taking the faintest breath. Throughout Germany the students at the Universities hold .what they call “lieer duels.” At these popular functions two of their number arc accused of imaginary crimes, are tried, and the verdict is brought in that both the accused are guilty, and that they must suffer the extreme penalty of the law. This means that they have tn swallow a large quantity of beer in a small, prescribed time. The 'oner has to pay for all the beer drunk during til? proceedings. The “ culprits” stand opposite one another, having the requisite numlvsr of mugs of beer placed <ll the table before them. The signal given, the contestants grab for th?- mugs, which they empty one after another ill quick succession. Mug after mug disappears as if they were poured down a sink. Cheering .and shouting encourage the combatants Seldom do thev finish ail tli?ir mugs: but one student is sure to como cut ahead of the /other, 'flip contest decided, the v;;tor is borne n iumnh t the “throne” —*21 dunr J placed on a beer-table at the end of the hall, where he is crowned with it 1 wreath of laurel and .addressed as .1 patron saint.