Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-24
MID S 9MMER NOTES
The SNOWFALL Versus the Good Old Hokey-
q I. POkey.
What Has Decpme of Frank storty.-
The Drug store Drink Of -,
Q the Future. $3.50.

appearance OF the nokey-pOkey man. The
summer of 1888 Will be noted as a period
when the youth of Washington was without
a novelty in the line of cooling refresh
ments. The year Of heat, 1894, however,
will long be thought Of as the time when
the SNOWFALL came whizzing into the field
Of thirsty humanity. In some respects the
SNOWFALL Is a worthy successor to the slab
of hokey-pokey. 1t is cool as the slice
Of frozen sweetness-perhaps sweeter. 1t
seems to go right to the spot, and there.
is sort of frigid swishiness that reminds
enc somewhat OF the north pole and the
Wellman expedition. But in other regards
the hockey -pokey is a thing to be regretted.
1t was firm, and could be eaten like a slice
of bread. There was an air of an impromptu
banquet about it that can never be emu
lated by the elusive SNOWFALL The havors
were more distinct. and probably more en-
during. They gave to the hunk of zeroness
an atmosphere OF refinement that the aver
age SNOWFALL artist is not able to impart
to his wares. But, then, the hokey-pokey
cost a nickel, while the SNOWFALL goes at
cent apiece. This is great advantage on
the part of the later edition of congelation.
1t appeals to a larger range of consumers.
1t has carried the joys of gelidity to thirsty
thousands whose impecuniosity summer
before last compelled them to forego the
pleasures of hokey-pokey. Perhaps 1t is a
case of evolution. Perhaps it is the newt
able cheapening in the absolute necessi-
ties of life caused by the hard times. Per-
haps it is due to the spirit of competition.
At all events the SNOWFALL Is a great sue
cess. Its manufacturers and vendors are
increasing with each day. and its fame is
spreading quite fast as did the luclous
prodact of the celebrated and lamented
Frank Stortys freezers. And by the way
what has become Of Frank Shorty? The
day was. a couple of summers ago. when
his name was household word, when his
little carts were to be seen on every hand
wit he
nickels of thousands of thirsty folks.
! Franks strong-lunged servitors made the
| air vocal with their praises of their arctic
wares. There was a swing, reckless
| rhythm, a mad midsummer abandon about
| their cry: 'Hokey-pok ice-cream, five
cents a package! The accents fell so
and the ice and the five and the
! pack The cry had all the elements of
| a dogday madrigal 1t seemed to charm
the scent pi ces out of the pockets of weary
hearers like the pipe of the pied musician
| won the rats from their holes in
Hamelein town. Particularly on Sat
urday afternoons when Sousa was soft
ening the hearts Of his friends at
| lovely music did Frank Storty's agents
ply their packages with great success on
the gala days Of hot weather. July's Fourth
and other occasions OF great leisure. franks
frozen stock was at a high premium. Some
| body once tried to estimate the amount Of
| money spent by, the youth of Washington
in these arctic articles. but the task was
too difficult and the sum was abandoned
with the total already mounting into the
thousands of dollars
Now, the question is: What has become
of the hockey -pokey? Is it gone forever?
Has the public taste changed so completely
that it cannot be revived? 1t cannot be
that the SNOWFALL has driven il from the
market, for the hockey -pokey had been gone
at least season before the SNOWFALL was
invented, or, at least, introduced here Last
year there was hiatus, untitled by any
variety of cold merchandise. 1t may be
that the popular taste has changed, and
that the original Frank Shorty. together
with his followers and imita tors, took waln-
ing of the wane of enthusiasm and with
drew from the marts long enough to think
UP something new. ..t .-
There is one thing quite sure and that is
mat these summer tastes are tickle The
THIRSTY populace demands novelties Snow
bals meet that demand this year TO q
nicely but II is to be predicted that the
SNOWFALL in Its present form, with its ac-
campaigning fiavors, will not last as long as
did the hockey pokey, notwithstanding the
reduced price
The variations of taste to be Noted in the
parched population of this sun-dried COM
Tnunity are felt most particularly by the
soda-Water men, who are put to their wits
ends to lind attractive variations upon the
theme of fzz. sweetness and coolness
Names are changed, colors are varied. a
little more strip or n little less gas may be
added, and 10! the market is flooded with
new drinks Combinations of torics and
plain throat washes are made to please tb,.
! oonsciences of the folks who are particular
about what they drink in summer" Under
the guise of building up the system and
Lonihs the nerves these gentle frauds
drink gallons Of harmless soda water and
other drug store fizz and really believe that
they are taking course of treatment
brilliantly painted sign boards, standing
Just outside the door, lure the hypochon-
driacs into the precincts Of the lemon phos-
plate and the pineapple shrub. Physicians
as rule do not get in the way of these
diversions, for they have the druggists
word for II that there is nothing really
harmful in the mixtures. Then, too, the
druggist always has very good remedy
close at hand, else something quite as
good, but a little cheaper"
Cold watches and diamond rings and other
alluring articles are given away as at
fractions, ana the competition between the
druggists and other dealers in soda is be-
coming something quite alarming. Is there
to be an experience here as there was in
New York couple of summers ago, when
the saloon keepers warred among them
selves in the race for custom? They first
began TO increase the size of the beer glass
and finally there nothing sold along
the thirsty thoroughfares like the Bowery
and 9th avenue but great vessels, larger
than the old-fashioned schooner. The price
at first remained stable, at cents. 1t was
then called the workngman's glass" and
the customer had his choice at even rates.
between that and the ordinary small glass.
the most enterprising of the dealers sold
nothing but the ''workingman's glass" But
that was not enough, and the price went
down TO four cents, and finally to three.
There was no telling what might have hap
pened had the competition gone on any
further. 1t was surnised that in another
month the saloon men would be paying
premiums to customers for drinking their
beer but finally the downward progress of
| prices stopped and the saloon men recov-
cred their senses formed a union and re-
stored the old rates. but with a slightly
larger glass than had prevailed before the
war. But how the GROWERS and the
free lunchers" did enjoy themselves while
| the strife was on
There cannot be increase in the size
| or the soda watt Flass very well, for the
present allowance l. about much as the
ordinary human being can hold. There is
| an enthusiasm about the gaseous drink
that prevents one from over drinking. 1t
has bad habit of refusing to stay drunk
| that is drank-Well at any rate, Ii won't be
| downed. So what are the poor drug store
men to do? They cannot very well give
| away houses and lots under the present
condition of thesreal estate market. They
might try European trips or steam yachts,
but they are not novel. No, the day has
come for the gallant intellect of some clever
American to devise new drug store drink,
not a new drink that is merely a combina-
i nf OH farfnl lie hut I1,y