The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-29
NEW YORK DRINKERIES.
The Probabilities of Success in the Eff
fort to Prevent Men from Drinking.
The Rum Habit and the Fine Arts-Children
on the S~tage-Notes of the Drama
and Of Current Literature.
of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
New YORK, Nov. 26.-The increased strictness
with which the excise law has lately been en-
forced on Sunday brings up freshly to any one
who knows New York the question whether it
viii ever be possible to close all these saloons
and liquor dispensaries one day in the week, as
the law demands. ] do not think it will be. A
very little observation shows what an enormous
Iy strong foothold these places have all over the
city, and, notwithstanding the reports in the
newspapers, but little difficulty is really en-
esuntered by those who want something to
drink in getting in. They may have to 60
through side doors; there may be a little incl
dent of turning a key in a lock, or of encounter
ing a wary picket who will sometimes refuse &C
cess to persons whose faces he does not know.
But the object is always accomplished by
a slight effort. 1 remember, by
the way, the case of a lunch
room and bar in Boston to which a license was
refused after it had been licensed for several
years. What did the proprietors do2 They
kept their doors locked the whole year through,
bat issued to their patrons hundreds of latch
Keys. It was astonishing what a large number
of men passing along fremont street in broad
light, both Sundays and week days, stopped sud
denly in front of that locked door, as if they
had just remembered something important, and
then, with an air of proprietorship, inserted the
key and let themselves in. The secret got
around, and there was a rage for the keys. The
place became more popular than ever. The
next year it obtained a license without any
trouble. Vice is fertile in device. The law was
well symbolized by the lock on that door. No
matter how many wards you put into the legal
lock, men will notch their keys SO as to fit and
turn 1t. Last Sunday, at an uptown place
here, which the papers said gave nothing but
ginger ale and weiss beer, champagne was freely
sold in bottles labeled cider.
Speaking of bar-rooms, it is interesting to
notice the great changes and improvements they
have undergone in New York within the last
fifteen years. Time was, when the correct
thing for an ordinary corner drinking-shop was
to make a great display OF bottles and demijohns
Mn the windows, with an array of desperate
Hooking hogsheads inside, and a disreputable-
looking screen near the doorway. Now, even
common saloons, if it be desired to give them any
standing, have to confne their window effects to
handsome woodwork and stained glass. The in
terror fnishings are also designed in accordance
with ideas of supposed household art And
SO, in studying the bar-room, we proceed from
wildly decorated groggeries, by gradual stages.
to the barbaric splendor of the Hoffman House.
with its opulence of bric-a brac, it's $40. 900 pict-
ure by Bougeaureau, and other valuable paint
ings.
suggest to some essayist as a subjet, .The
Relations of Rum and the Fine Arts" There
are few artists, musicians, actors or il imaginative
authors who are teetotalers, hence there seems
TO be some connection between drinking and the
fine arts. At any rate, the adoption of more
artistic surroundings by the metropolitan bar
rooms may be set down as evidence of growing
refinement. Whenever aesthetic ornament in
yades the saloon there is apt to be less disorderly
conduct. It's curious, too, that when a success
full ''rum-shop" or ''gin-mil' ACQUIRES money
enough to offer additional attractions" it has to
call upon art TO furnish them. A queer melanpe
pictures, stained glass, free lunch and mixed
drinks. Near the City Hall park there is a verv
popular resort, which contains some effectiva
paintings and photographs of masterpieces. all
OF which, humorous. pathetic Or military, are
poticeabiv proper. Shrimps. picked oysters.
sandwiches and olives on a side table invite the
weary, furnishing man to enter and refresh him
self. Consequently. hundreds stop there at mid
day or drop in about 5 o'clock, to spoil their an
petites for dinner with a bite and a sun. A
short time ago a marvelously we'll
executed work in oils was put
An pVSiLlOu tuore, surrounded with
'draperies, and lit from above by gas lets con.
cealed behind a tin shade. 1t is called After
the Hunt" and represents a weather stained
Fbarn-door, on which are hung implements and
trophies OF the chase. Its clever realism de-
ceiyes the eye, for q moment, into a belief that
these objects have really been painted on a sur.
face of silver gray wood, so we'll depicted are the
rusty iron hinges, the key-hole and the warns
and cracks in the door. A sort of ledgerdemain
of art, it is constantly gazed upon by admiring
groups.
THAT beats the old master holler," asserted
a ruddy-nosed connoisseur. II never saw ann~
thing In my life as natural as that nail hole az
,cept a real nail hole. See how the wood is snlit
around it'll"
The rabbits tail takes me" said another man
who was eating q sandwich. 'Ive been TO ALI tho
galleries in Europe, and seen Titians. and
Raphaeis, and Rambrandts till I couldn't rest.
hut this picture lays over the deck. Give nc
this rabbits tail, every time"
These sentiments were received with marie of
strong approval by the bystanders. Very likely
therefore, fine art in the bar.room does not rs;sa
average taste higher than the plane of admirino
a rusty. nail,hole which isn't quite so good as the
original reality. But it is better to have a little
fine art there than none at all. 1t is worth ra
marking that the establishment where this n;cI-
nre bangs has tried the co operative plan With
ats employees. Six years ago it began distribut.
1ng to them the proceeds of all sales made on
Christmas day, both at the bar and cigar.stand
and in the wholesale department of wines and
hqnOrs. The first year it divided among the
employees 81. 562. Last year the amount rose to
$8,276. This is a charming instance of beneyo-
lenee, and has served as a great advertisements
But, as a truthful chronicler, 1 am bound to Nv
that the bartenders in that place have beconS.
in consequence, the most INDECENT, careless and
ssrly in the city.
Colonel Mapelson closes his opera season at
She Academy of Music somewhat abruptly this
year. Certain people say it is because of the op-
position performances of Germanopera at tn
Metropolitan. But others, who ought to know
best, declare that it is because Italian opera in
Nsw York has died a natural death. after Patti
just as it has persisted or lapsed into coma in
81. Petersburg, Paris and London, since that
phenomenal and high priced star asserted her
supremacy in those capitals. Patti is regarded
by many members of her profession as a sort of
musical vampire, who sucks the life out of any
opera-house in which she sings. Not only has
she raised the cost of enjoying good opera COM
nanias until IL is aluaaSt i'm osihia 70 rnaLo $Lo,a