Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/450

 436 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

lodges, very little pretext, if any, being necessary for the forma- tion of a new lodge. Club-life is highly developed, and the saloons are much less frequent here than in the adjoining Bohe- mian district. Here the national element enters into the prob- lem, but the fact remains that there is a district and a people where the club-life of the lodge takes the place, in a very large measure, of the club-life of the saloon. In Englewood, a local- option district, fraternal life obtains over all other forms of social intercourse. Many of the lodges have "ladies' nights," which, in some of the orders, are among the social events of the season. Receptions, dancing and card parties, under the direction of some lodge, are of frequent occurrence. The wives, the sons, and daughters of men in the same order, the Masons in particular, have formed their own societies, which, though not officially recognized, are an important factor in the social life of that district. And thus in several parts of the city there seems to be a relationship between the number of lodges and the num- ber of saloons.

And now, why are the lodges either immediately above or near the saloons ? A re-wording of the question suggests a partial answer. Why are the saloons either immediately beneath or clustered about the lodges ? There are in the city a great number of large brick or stone buildings owned by brewing companies or private liquor dealers. On the ground floor is the saloon, with rooms for billiards, bowling, lavatories, etc., a por- tion sometimes being rented to other business firms. On the second floors are lodge-halls and an auditorium, or, in some, several floors are devoted to lodge-halls. The auditorium of

Hall, on Milwaukee avenue, one of the largest, is in

almost constant use for conventions. On Milwaukee avenue, the main thoroughfare of the workingmen's district on the west side, in a distance of two and one-half miles there are five of these halls. I have taken pains to ascertain, by observation and by conversation with the saloonkeepers, bartenders, and lodge- men, whether or not there is a greater proportion of drinking among fraternity men than among others, and what the reason is why saloons prefer a location under or near a lodge hall. The