Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/218

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202
RUINED PUBLICANS—BAD BEER.

up judgment, "Fi fa" his goods and chattek, and put in another man who will take it more kindly; one who more obsequiously draws their rot-gut stuff, and recommends his customers to cure themselves on the spot with cordial gin.

N.B. One scarcely ever gets a drop of good beer at a mere gin shop; these appear to me to choose the brewer who sells the worst article.

Bad goods disgust the public, and that with short measure, hastens the ruin of the suffering publican; hence the great number of moves (removals) that happen daily, to the great surprise of every one who does not trace effects up to their sources; and to the advantage chiefly of the brokers of spirits, and the appraisers of goods—who alone reap the harvest that is produced by bad beer. Moreover, that brewing concern, however rich, is sure to go to wreck, sooner or later, which serves the public with a bad article, behaves harshly to its retailers, or disingenuously to their fellow brewers. We know them. This latter description of conduct is the least interesting to the public; for, who cares when two tigers tear each other's hides? But we cannot help thinking, that the brewer, who carneys with, fawns to, or, by hook or by crook pays a magistrate, to act unl'airly towards another brewer, will