ETIQUETTE OF THE BEER HALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 965, 3 September 1908, Page 20

ETIQUETTE OF THE BEER HALL.

Berlin is organised for eating and drinking, and so are the Berliners organised for it. Scattered all over the city are enormous places where served—wine halls, where only wines are served, and beer halls, which deal in beer alone, some not so impeccable. It is the rule that it is perfectly proper to take your mother or your wife or your sister to a beer hall or wine hall that is frequented by the officers of the army. They go only to the proper ones pub-

llcly. The etiquette of these places is most formal. If the hall is crowded and tables are scarce, before you sit down you draw your heels together and make a military bow to everyone Bitting at the table you select. Then, also, you raise your glass or stein to those at the table when your refreshment is served. On leaving, you bow all round again. Or the other people at the table bow, if they leave before you do. The American way of asking the others at the table for permission to sit down is not ceremonious enough for the Germans, who are the most formally polite people In the world.