The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-12-18
DARKROOM AND CAFE.
The Change that Has Come Over Drinking
Habits in New York.

''It must have been dcuced slow
work in those days. said the young
man. He was sitting with his elderly
companion in Delmonico's cafe, which
affords its occupants a view of the fair
passers-by on Broadway. Evening was
Just closing in and rosy light from the
setting sun filled the thoroughfare- 1t
was just before the elections. and peo-
pie then could talk of something else
than districts" precincts" and
''piuralities, and the two men were
lazily discussing one matter and anoth-
er until the conversation had turned
through the natural channel suggested
by the dainty carafes and liqueur glass
es before them to the subject of drink
ing in general, and the habits of a by
gone day in particular. They were q
strangely assorted pair, but they SEEM
ed to get along together. The elder
man had probably seen the shady side
OF 90, but was dressed like, and at first
glance appeared to be, much younger
man. His white mustache was care
fully trimmed, while his ruddy color,
deepening until it almost suggested
purple in his nose, betokened "a man
fond of the good things of life, while
the good-humored CLEAN of his gray
thatched eyes showed that he was wont
to follow Peacock's advice, and
When he had dined. wish all mankind
Might dine as well as he.
The boy sitting opposite was bright
young fellow of about %, dressed in
the extremity of the fashion, who dam
died huge silver-tipped cane in an af-
fectionate manner as he talked.
"Slow work?' repeated the ancient.
mo, sir, it was mighty quick work, l
can tell you. We drank in those days,
can assure you. We dip not SIP"
and he glanced trifle disdainfully at
the tiny glass of green Chartreuse
which faced his own staggering -four
fingers of tawny rye. I'VE didn't
waste any time about it. either. Just
stood up to the bar and drank our liq-
uor down like men. Sometimes we
downed it, and sometimes it downed
u.s." And the old fellows eyes seemed
to look backward to the treasured
memories of the past.
''You young fellows" he continued
reflectively, ..have changed all that,
and I'll tell you frankly that [ think
the change is for the better. We old
fellows sneer and sniff aboutit, may be,
but the change that has come over the
drinking habits of New York has left
us not so thoroughly American per-
haps, but at any rate healthier and
more respectable.
Twenty years ago. continued the
veterans, settling himself more COM
Portable in his armchair, '.such place
as this was unknown. Now they are
springing up on every side. Go over
the road to the Hoffman where you
have gorgeOusness unparalleled, and
where, by the way, the new dispensa-
ton and the old are united, where you
can drink rAmericaine or a la Fran
caise in the same room. Over at the
Brunswick we find the same, thing,
v hile at all new hotels, which are
springing up so quickly, the cafe is the
center of the mems part of the house.
Now, this change in the manners and
customs of our young men is due to
several causes. In the first place you
boys have more time at your disposal
than We had. We used to work, while
you lounge; not that | blame you for
lounging, bear in mind, for l hold an
accomplished lOunger to be one of the
noblest works of the nineteenth CEN
tury. Then a more general knowledge
of the laws of health has been another
factor in the evolution of the cafe. "
How do you make that out?'
Very easily, my boy. Go into any
small lager-beer shop in the city, and
you will find on the counter bowl of
cheese and some unwholesome-looking
crackers. What does that mean? 1t
means that even the tramp has found
out that his liquor does him less harm
if he takes it with even mouthful of
solid food. SO the aristOcratic tramp,
if we may call him so, have discovered
on his part that'a few oysters, bit of
pate de tole grdS, or some toothsome
morsel of that sort allows him to drink
with more friends than he otherwise
could without the disagreeable conse-
quence of flushed face and thickened
utterance. Besides, the average Amer
lean has now discovered that there are
other drinks in the world beside
straight whisky. A small bottle of
champagne or light wine is pleaSanter
to the palate and almost as exhilarat-
ing to the spirits as gulp of bourbon
or rye. see that you look aSkance at
my glass, but you must remember that
| am an old fogy and can not shake off
my old habits.
The more abundant leisure of the
richer classes, however, has chiefly
fostered the cafe system. To many
young men this room serves as club
and restaurant in one. Young men
who for many hours in the day have no
occupation want a meeting place, a
lounging-place, and a drinking-place,
and in the cafe they find the three
united.n
Don't you think, though, that
Messrs. Delmonico, Kinzler. and Stokes
have had not little to do with intro
ducing the cafep''
Certainly; but they only supplied
what their customers insisted upon
having. Don't think that the old bar
did not pay great deal better than the
new cafe-it did by large plurality.
Besides the immense amount Of capital
invested, they have weekly sum to
pay for help which must be enormous.
However, the public have gained in ev-
cry way, and you and l among them.
That being the case, let us have one
little old-fashioned cocktail, and then
asked Louis to bring US the bill of
fare. ."-NeU York Tribune.
A new skating surface. called ..c-ys-