New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-01
ABITOF FOOD"ON THE SIDE .
HOW 1T WAS POSSIBLE TO GET DRINKS IN
THE BIG HOTELS YESTERDAY.

MENU BEFORE LIQUOR COULD BE OBJ
TAINED-oTiHERwIsE 1T WAS AN EN-
TREMELY DRY SUNDAY AND THE
BARROOMs WERE CLOSED
When the statement is made that yesterday
was not so dry a Sunday in New-York as the
previous Sunday people may wonder what aas
happened to the police that they did not close
the saloons as tightly as they did before. When
supplemental to this thc paradoxical statement
is made that the excise law was enforced
great deal more rigdly yesterday thar on the
previous Sunday IL may be found hard recon-
Gle the two assertions until the situation 5 eS-
planned The fact remain. that while he law
was generally enforced. nevertheless" great
many thirsty peops encountered little or no
trouble in getting AZ the spir;uous ,quids thct
they desired ami consequently there waS less
grumbling yesterday thar on the previous un-
day.
The simple explanation ls that The Nqiar-dis-
reneers used what they regard as legitimate
method by which they could circumvent the liw.
OF course the saloons proper were closed tigf tly
So far as the corner saloons and others r'r'
concerned which in former days q" :. IN
habit # admitting patrons throu- q: cr
Il thee was dryer day spir.tuot ~
York had yesterday. it must h 'a
land ret undis covered The pOlice "a me sd
places with Al eagle-eye. and ii r. ~ 'e'.
few violations Of the law.
The place whore liquor was s sd: 1p' ly IA
IN the big hotels. Last Sunday tht le-.hrr t'l
buffet room in these places looked 1 my 81
drawn blinds and chairs drawn UP against L.
fables Whl.e-aproned walters sadly told visitors
that drinks were not 20 be had But there was
dfferen. story told yesterday. These r'on
were as open as usual, and the white-ani Jnei
walters were just as busy serving drinks az
ever. or perhaps buster. The only thing was that
a new me,nod Of procedure had been accpt "i
FREE LU:;CH THAT HAD To BE PAID FOR
When a guest entered one Of the rooms n a
hotel the waiter laid before him trim. wlite
card which had printed az the top the word
.'Monu" Following this a list Of ed bles
TO a regular hotel patron this list could not fail
10 be a great surprise. Imagine some OF the
most expensive hotels disposing Of lobster salad
for 10 cents. chicken salad .Gor 1O-cents. and a
roast beef sandwich for cents The gutst who
has been paying top-rate ices in the regular
dinlng-room. upon seeing this list, naturally
rubbed his eyes and registered a mental VOW
that he would change his place Of eating. But
when this rrspu was served the difference was
noted The sandwiches and salads were simp',
free lunch When guest demurred. and said
that he did not care TO cat the waiter de-
cisiyely told him that unless he ordered food
he could not be served with drinks That was
the whole explanation. and the hotels and
restaurants adhered rigidly to the rule
The law. as Interpreted by hotel men, who have
been giving the subject great deal Of thought
during the last week. allows the sale of LIQUOR
with >oo1. Therefore a general agreement was
er ;ered into to s~il food at nominal figure. The
result must he satsfactor. to the hotel men, for,
from ali that could be seen yesterday. there was
falling off in the Sunday patronage. and at the
same time for every drink sold food was
also sold, which, under ordinary circumstances
would be given away free. About every motel
man in the city and every rcstaurant-keeper as
far could be learned. adopted this course and
apparently the method worked perfectly.
Tor the most pari. however. the regular bar
! ,oms were closed tight. great many OF them
took pains 10 show that they were really closed
In many Instances the blinds over the windows
were thrown up. and the mahogany fixtures IN
the windows which contain the mirrors
moved So that those passing could look INTO the
empty and deserted barrooms. This was done in
many instances to avoid the annoyance Of hav-
i.lg strangers come 10 the sue doOr ana make
vain attempts TO get in.
OvFa BRIDGE FOR A DRINK
But sertheless some Of these places that
v.rs conspcuously closed had private bars
rigged up in the back. the floor above.
where thirsty mortals could be accommodated.
One rumshpp on a prominent corner Of Third
- had ext door 10 il little frame house
looked inOffensiye possible. A numhor
men, VINO were evidently posted. were zee.
, ng In and olt of this house during the 4ay.
e house was separated from the saloon next
nco- by an allcyway. An investigation revealed
n fact that the men went UP TO the second
n6@r Z the house where they were looked
II hey were thought 10 be all right, they were
al we'd II pass over an ironing board. which
20 l. end a window sill Of the house.
z 'ther end on the sill Of the window in the
story Of the saloon building. This i'm
- itu bridge was passed over during the day
o eat many men. After reaching the second
s. OF this saloon they would pass downstairs
O. set their drink To get out they would re-
!, 20 the second story. and at the imminent
'i breaking their necks. some being none too
2 owDg to the liquor mbibed. would pass
D. over che ironing board. downstairs and
2! more reach the street. Some Of those who
T. rsei thif route said afterward that Ma
- march across the Alps dress pa
RI comparison with their pilgrmage and
tn a. vas not worth drink.
4 ,,ncr "growler' route was open TO only
noxs who lived on the block These took their
= IS ana went up onto the roof of their houses
crossed over 10 the corner. thence down
Dh a fat-house 10 a saloon which was on
T. sround floor. and returned BY the same route
CALLED DOWN on THIS DEAL"
There had been for the last few Sun days several
able violations Of the laws one man in one
80 ith-st. has KEEP; open In spfe OF anything
~ Old be done TO close him up. Twelve men
r. 'snt on Sunday last to catch him. but he
lvC tacn all. Yesterday morning at o'clock
)cEterta was stationed in front q his door
ST - ;Aere a silent sentinel. and number OF
!. g onr who came laughing do~n the street feel
that their drink was assured brought ND
W u sudden stop when they saw the officer on
gari lie never moved muscle, and they
tt,Ted sadly away. AT O'Clock in the afternoon
the SHADES or the place went up suddenly. the
Wa'nat piece was taken out Of the window and
the saioonkeeper walked olt and went home As
he passed the policeman the proprietor remarked:
afne but.
!cnve called me down with this deal. AND |
throw up my hands Not "A person had entered
lla fho -A.Ilc I'd