TRADE  WITH  LATIN  AMERICA  221

age—that  is  they  had  read  about  it  and  heard
people  refer  to  it,  but  few  really  knew  what  it
looked  like  or  how  it  tasted.  All  were  naturally ­
  more  or  less  suspicious  of  it.  Nothing
daunted  the  phlegmatic  Teutons  who  had  invested ­
  their  money  in  the  erection  of  the  plant
in  pursuing  their  stolid,  predetermined  plan
of  introducing  beer  as  a  national  beverage  in
lieu  of  the  light  clarets  and  other  wines,  formerly ­
  so  much  in  use  in  these  countries.  A
building  on  the  most  prominent  corner  of  the
city  of  Caracas  was  leased  and  in  it  chairs  and
tables  were  arranged  as  in  German  beer  halls,
while  adjacent  to  the  bar  at  which  the  beer  was
served  direct  from  the  barrel,  was  a  lunch
stand  which  provided  excellent  delicatessen
food.  When  everything  was  ready,  invitations ­
  were  sent  broadcast  to  the  better  class
families  to  come  and  accept  the  hospitality  of
the  brewing  company  without  cost  for  the  purpose ­
  of  becoming  better  acquainted  with  the
health  and  strength-giving  properties  of  real
German  beer.  Physicians  were  “sampled”  in
detail  and  told  when  to  prescribe  and  what  to