The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-09
IS THERE N 4 NAME
Queer Signs Behind Which is
Quaffed the Cup that
Exhilarates.
Taken Often from Terms Used
by the Patrons OF the
Houses.
n Touch Of the Facetious in Others and
Some Of Personal Application
Ephemeral Titles.

Touch OF the EaCeLlOuS IN OIAeEs SAu
Some Of Personal Application :.
Ephemeral Titles.
One day last week some men were hoist
ing a sign up over the house front of little
ba. room on a quiet west side street. 1t
was large sign, calculated to extend the
length of the house front. In the center a
circular panel varied the straight lines of
the regulation oblong board. On this panel
was painted, and very well painted, too,
representation Of a royal big rib of rare
roast beef that almost gave one an appetite
to look at. The title of the house, inscribed
in great gold letters on black ground on
either side of this work of art, was "The
joint"
The proud proprietor, supervising the
erection Of this hospitable memorial, ex-
planned it to New York News reporter.
He made speciality, it seems, of serving
Joint Of cold roast beef daily to his patrons
IL, order to provide them with solid foun-
dation for their liquid refreshments, and AZ
his place had come to be known a. 1.-The
sJeint'' throughout wide radius, he knew
no reason Why he should not claim the
title, and thus publicly advertise it.
7Inefe are RleaG many "oIe VI tneSe
curious and characteristic saloon signs
around New York than most people wot of.
a stroller of the town with his eyes open
and a notebook and pencil handy could iot
down enough of them to provide material
for volume in weeks walking. You
fnd them from the Battery to Harlem. At
the former end of the town is dingy sign
which announces the saloon it adorns to he
s.The Emigrant's Friend.'' At the latter n
one-story shanty is perhaps not irrelevant
" to the character of the combustibles it
vends, designated by its sign board as the
ssRough on Rats
In certain localities the pursuits or bust
FnesseS of the district influence the signs.
Thus, in the Harlem district you find
houses Of refreshment called 1.-The Row.
lock, !" 1.-THE Golden Oar and 1.-THE Skif."
Around the markets are saloons variously
entitled ''The Cleaver,'' The Old Cheese,
saThe Bushel Basket . "rhe Peck Measure
and ''The Hucksters' Home," while near a
west side foundry is the tavern Of "The
and On the east SIDE in similar Hpn
fslaughter house district has beer saloon
called '"rhe Rawhide," and not far from
the Tenth avenue gas works is one called
ts'The Gas House." One of the funniest,
and on investigation, most reasonable tav-
saloon not far from Fulton Ferry. 1t is
called ''The Ferry Ticket" because it has
for years been the practice of the house
to present any Brooklyn customer
Who might spend hls ferry money
!, There is touch of the spirit Of facetious-
nsss about some of our tavern titles. Thus.
stAe topper may assuage his thirst at "The
tKaR, bathe in beer at .'The Tank" or i'm
bibe it I'D lib. at THE Growler." There is
an east side half -basement saloon, whose
whose family traae, no doubt, procured for
Il the title, .tA1he Little Pitcher Mr..
Harrigan ,aight find subject for one Of
yAis ininitsbls local songs in this place or
himself receives due honor in his own ward
BY having neat little tavern, where one
may drink good old ale at good old
fashioned bar, presided over by good, old
fashioned host, called the "Muddy Day."
Another Ninth ward hostlery is christened
where fishermen consort to trade strange
clutches is :aThe Black Bass
1.-THE Happy Man. is the inviting title of
one OF our convenient houses OF resort:
Another is called 'The Man in the Moon.''
Two bonifaoes not unknown to east side
district politics run saloons called respec-
lively ss,the Candidate and 1.-The Nomi-
tnee." A political headquarters on Ninth
avenue is widely known as 1.-The Fog
THE Referee." The sign Of ''The Pipe
70 thirsty wanderers along Eleventh ave
nue., and that of s'The Oak challenges
wayfarers on Eighth avenue to shade ane
ssi1sshmspt 1.-THE ass ;he %s aSss
Willow are other contributions Of nature
to the nomenclature of King Alcohol. Ant
natural history gets show in '"Ehe Ram
Head,' on Eighth avenue, .'The White Ele
Phant,' ON Broadvay: and 1.-The Colder
ias. York tavern Keeping, on Amity street
ins rse sfo IS !. !!:aolden swan.' "whit
Horse,S a "Bulrs Head and "Butialo
tavern. Pugiliatio roiste!ers may bray
ienge the bouncer's services at '"rhe Box
made Of arhe Arbor,'' and soak in cali
contentment in the pleasant precincts q
1.-THE verandah'' while 1.-The Oyster" nea
end Of the same street by 1.-THE Clam"
There is q pothouse called 1.-The Homes
Man" and ono called 1.-THE Fakir." Yeal
gro . Greenwich avenue tavern wake
prosperous under the title of THE Grapes.
avenue under the same title. The case ",
contested in court and the old trade MAJ
vaa sustained. 90 that the Sixth avenr
house is known a. ''The Grapevine" Yea
aao Nolan's "Woodbine" was famous an
popular house on Sixth avenue: Nolan h,
bine," in changed shape. to be sure,
4 few blocks away from the Grand Ce,
trail Depot il tiny, neat and very prospe
ous beer saloon and restaurant which has
certain pathetic interest attaching to i
history and that of its table. Some yea
400 there was an honest, jovial Germa
Nottingham employed in big factory ne
by. He lived in . conveniently adiacel
tenement house, and every Sunday and ho
day "a summer. took his wife on little pi
MIC up on the Bronx, around williamsburg
whore they had friends living. On one
these picnios he was killed through his oy
carelessness by passing express train. Il
fellow workmen subscribed little fund
his widow. His employer gave her hou
that belonged to him rent free for We;
She opened her little hostelry there, and
her husbands friends patfonized her. 5
now does business that enables her to p
rent and lay money by, and her house
known as ''The Widows"
These tavern titles Of personal apple
ton are not uncommon. There is Q
called "The Greenhorn's." Its propriet'
when he opened il years ago, was an I'M
cent and trustful- looking young fellow, "
got the nickname from his customers, a
finding it sort of trade mark. stuck to
Another similar title Is 1.-THE Iron Arm
ssfCho Ivov u n vaaort for YOuQh. haI