The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-16
NEW YORK LETTER.
[FRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. I

NEW YORK, July 12.-When I preface my letter
with the candid acknowledgment that I devoted
no less than three hours last night to the self
imposed task OF making grand tour of inspec-
lion OF the Broadway concert halls, better known
as the pretty waiter girl saloons, must be per-
mitted to add-and must be believed when do
add most emphatically- said tour of inspec-
hon was conceived and executed with Pickwi ckian
sentiments, and in q Pickwickian manner, as
was actuated solely and entirely by the desire to
fulfill my duty as correspondent, which q con-
ceived) demanded that should enlighten myself
as to the workings of these institutions (so to
speak since the breaking up Of the Excise Law
prohibition, and the renewed and unrestricted
vending Of weak beer and strong liquors, in order
that may be the better enabled to post your
readers. That the vein of candor may be INDUCED
without stint or drawback, may add that in my
peregrnations WAS accompanied by friend just
arrived from Charleston, who. though not corres-
Pondent, entertained corresponding Pickwickan
TeWs AS many OF your readers may not have a
proper understanding as to what these saloons
are, propose to trace their origin and give their
history up to the present period.
Many years ago-perhaps from ten to fifteen
an enterprising Yankee opened concert hall here
called the "Melodeon," initiating, to certain ex-
tent, the cafes concerts or cafes chantnnts of
Paris; and the "Melodeon" succeeded go well that
soon after several other concert halls we're thrown
open on Broadway. In one of these halls one
could, by paying twenty-five cents admission hear
bad concert and see species Of mixed perform
ance, lasting from seven to twelve o'clock-mean-
While drinking lager, or something stronger, for
which he paid, having his liquor served by kind
OF amateur Hebe or pretty waiter girl. The mu-
sio, which WAS the ostensible attraction was, in
time dr oil
though even now it is retained in some), whilst
the real attraction, the pretty waiter girls re-
mained, and the twenty-five cents for admission
was abolished. At present Broadway is crowded
with these saloons, and each saloon crowded not
only with pretty waiter girls, but with ugly ones
also. The young ladies connected with these
establishments are neither notorious for their ex-
treme modesty, famous for their refinement nor
world-renowned for their respectability. They
are, however, noted for their extreme poteness
and extraordinary socability, evnced in their per-
feet Willingness to partake of friendly glass,
even when invited to do 80 by comparative
(or entire) stranger. cannot say, however, that
many OF these young ladies are gifted with any
astonishing powers of conversation or that in said
conversation they give evidence Of the possession
Of any very great degree Of intellectually. On
remsrkng to one Of them that perceived the
Excise Law WAS no longer in operation, she re-
piled that 1t WAS not, and added that it WAS 40
much nicer to have liquor for sale than chocolate
or coffee. Struck with the originality of the idea
I put ar end to the conversation and took nv de.
parture tfrom the Louvre), paying short visit to
the Summer Garden, where q very intelligent
young lady informed me that the waiter girl poes
on duty in the saloon at 7 P. NJ, and hands round
beer and liquor till A. NJ. The Louvre, located
at the OF Twenty. second. street and Broad.
way, is the handsomest saloon (of the kindly in
New York; but here, in all the Others though the
young ladies (2) behave themselves with certain
degree OF decency and assumed respectability, all
are moro or less depravsd, and, in fact, these
pretty waiter girl saloons are but q grade higher
than the lowest dens Of dissipation and vice. Since
the liquor selling prohibition has been removed,
these places again filed nightly, and crimes
are committed, hearts are broken, notes forged,
throats cut, and robberies perpetrated by unfor-
tunate sons Of unhappy parents, who curse the
hour when their footsteps fret crossed the thresh-
old OF one Of these pretty waiter girl saloons.
The principal artistes of the italian Opera Troupe
announce four performances, to be given at Niblos,
fof benefit Of the fund proposed to be raised for