BEER-DRINKING JUNKET.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVII, 24 April 1897, Page 513

BEER-DRINKING JUNKET.

No one but a German would ever have originated the idea of such a pilgrimage as is about to be undertaken by a band of beer-drinkers of Berlin. It will certainly be the most novel kind of pilgrimage ever organised. Under the patronage of St. Gambrinus these pious votaries will set forth to visit all the great brewing centres of Germany, from Munich to Pilsen It is pro posed in the space of one short week to halt at Nuremberg. Dresden, Leipsig, Culmbach, and as many more towns as possible on the way where the cult of malt and hops flourishes in all its pride. The work of the pilgrims is therefore cut out for them, and though there will be many mighty ‘ bier koenigs ’ among them, not a few may be expected to fall by the wayside. This, indeed, is the principal fear which haunts the minds of the promotors of this unique pilgrimage—that the zeal of their followers may overmaster their prudence. For this reason there has been appended to the programme, which has already appeared, a warning, in type bigger and blacker than the rest, to the effect that the eyes of the empire will be upon them, and that it is hoped they will bear themselves in a manner worthy of citizens who hail from the imperial capital. It is said that these novel pilgrimages will have the blessing and sanction of Prince Bismarck himself, and there are deep regrets that old age and failing health will prevent him from heading the procession, as he certainly would have loved to do in the days of his prime. What particular object these beer-loving Berliners have in view, except that of not knowing their thirst for a whole week, is hard to discover. They doubtless are able to give the best reasons to their families, however, for their projected pilgrimage. ' Apilgrimage, indeed, without some good reason or sanction back of it would be no pilgrimage at all,’ once said Geoffrey of Monmouth, an old English chronicler. According to him, it was no end of a joke to go on a pilgrimage, for everybody was witty and had something screamingly funny to tell to keep the spirits up.