The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-12-16
NEW YORK LETTER.

The old time fairy queen of the orig
inal Black Crook, Pauline Markham is
at Tony Pastors, and so at each of her
performances is a group of men In the
front row Of seats, every man Jack OF
'em marked for maturity by width Of
person or scantiness Of hair. These
men go to see what was famous in the
early days of their theatre-going, and
are tantalized by what seems for ten
minutes likely chance Of disappoint-
ment Miss Markham and her COM
panion enter attired in conventional
simmer suits of crash and play at be-
ing stranded burlesQuers. She comes
ou4 later, however, as leader OF the
kmazons, and then is displayed the
charms which in part were likened in
the early days to the lost arm Of the
Venus of Milo.
The Model Cheap Hotel.
While the fashionable world is look
ing through the Astoria part OF the
Waldrof-Astoria Hotel with great in
terest, another stratum Of society Is
watching the progress Of hotel in
Heeeker-st., the opening Of which will
mark new era in the housing of men
In moderate circumstances. Many at
tempts have been made In that di-
rection, but In nearly every instance
the buildings have either been so ar
ranged that they did not attract a de-
sirable class Of people or the archi-
lecture decoration--or lack of decora-
tion-or general effect was such as 10
give the house an institution-like ap-
pearance, with no semblance Of refine
ment, comfort or home.
d. o. Mills, the builder and owner Of
the new hotel, which will be known as
Mills House No. I, gave the subject
hong and careful study before he began
building the hotel. and spared neither
time nor expense in making the struct-
ure as complete and as nearly perfect
as possible.
A clean, comfortable room, fur
nished with well-appointed bed, the
floor carpeted aud the windows cur
is only one of the features of the great
building, which is arranged to accom-
modate in its ten stories fifteen hun
dred guests. Well-equipped lavatores,
shower baths and luxurious reading
and smoking rooms are at the disposal
OF the guests of the house without ex-
ira charge, and a good restaurant will
furnish meals at rates in keeping with
lodging charges. Although every
thing-rooms, meals, and other accom-
MOdations-will be furnished at ex-
ceeding low prices, none of those who
patronize the place need feel that they
enjoy charity, for Mr.. Mills wishes 1t
distinctly understood that in building
the house he simply desires to give to
those who will patronize il the great
est value for their money. and he be-
Neves that even at the low prices
which will be charged the house will
not only be self-supporting, but will
ultimately yield a revenue.
Bowery whiskey Is Pure.
The morgue keepers OF Chatham
square and the Bowery are holding up
their heads and scornfully shifting at
the fancy drink mixers who have
habit Of twirling their mustaches and
mashing themselves in the mirrors of
the big cafes.
The man who is responsible for it all
sits in a little room near the top Of the
Criminal Court building and picks
things apart for the benefit of science
and the health of New Workers.. DR..
Ernst J. Lederle is the man. AS chem
ist of the Health Board he was direct
ed by the Chief Of the Division OF
Foods to analyze the various brands
of drink known to the frequenters of
the Bowery lodging houses as Ken
nedy's Curse" the "Panhandler's JOY"
Graveyard Booze" and "Bowery
lightning"
DIR. Lederle spent nine days and nine
nights getting samples OF the liquor
aud finding out what was in it. He
stated that he had secured twenty
samples of the stuff sold in the
morgues of the Bowery at three cents
a drink. The analysis showed that the
stuff was only imitation whiskey and
that 1t was less harmful than genuine
new whiskey. Good whiskey, the
doctor stated, contains a certain
amount of fusel oil, while none Of this
oil was found in the stuff sold at the
Bowery morgues. Fusel oil in large
quantities was dangerous, while the
stuff sold at three cents a glass was
cologne spirits favored and colored.
According to the United States
Pharmacopoeia," says DR.. Lederle,
"whiskey should contain from so to 6S
per cent Of alcohol by volume. OF the
samples of three-cent liquor ex-
amined eight contained As per cent. Of
alcohol, four contained 40 per cent,
Ave contained S5 per cent, and three
30 per cent. found that the flavors
used We're peppermint, prune Juice,
vanilla, cinnamon, or bergamot Cara
mel was added to deepen the color.
None of the flayors or colorings used is