The hungry walked on eagerly. A few feet from the door that led into the arena where the waiting tables were they had to pass by a wide-open door. Within, in plain sight of the passers-by, was a long bar. Behind the bar were white-jacketed bartenders. The beer-kegs formed an inspiring background. On the bar itself stood dozens of big schooners—full.
Above the bar could be read:
FREE BEER! Frei! Gratis!
A few walked on—straight to the dining-hall.
But every one who walked into the free-beer room was told to go through a door on the left.
"That way!" a policeman told the thirsty.
The first man who went into the inner room found a policeman standing beside a table on which were a dozen full schooners.
"If you drink now you don't eat," courteously said the cop.
"Kismet!" said the starving man, and reached for a schooner.
"It's for after eating!" gently warned the policeman.