The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-25
BARKEEP FAR FROM Row FRY.
An Exile Encountered by Two New Workers
Away IN the state.

The real Bowery bartender. the fellow
with the short hair. iron gray mustache
curling up at the ends. broken nose. squat
from New York. Two New Workers coming
out Of the woods where they had been
hunting last week stopped at a small hotel
in a city up near the Canada line. Pre-
siding over the bar they found the genuine
article.
How he ever escaped from the Bowery
and got up there they couldn't imagine,
but that he was the real thing it took but
a glance to tell. He was all there. even
down to a dent or two in the top Of his
head, which came from having bottles in
the hands of impatient customers bumped
on it.
The eyes Of the bartender liz up at once
when he saw the New Workers. He knew
them by certain marks, as well az they knew
him.
"Whiskey!" said the New Workers..
The bartender went under the bar and
hauled out two whiskey glasses, larger than
those in sight, behind the bar
New York glasses" he said briefly.
Have a certain kind of glass for Now
Yorkers?' asked one man.
why, gent s, If was to give you ono Of
the thimhles they use up here, you wouldn't
like it at all, Look at EN-" and he pro-
duced two diminutive whiskey glasses Of
the sort they put out in the small country
barrooms. 80 the farm, hands won't take
more than their moneys worth.
You're from New York;
"Bowery,' said the bartender.
How can you stand this?' asked ono
man.
BEST graft ever I see. gents. said tho
bartender. growing confidential. Say, up
here they actually tip the bartender.
Ever hear Of that before? Mop Well,
neither did I. But up here when . blood
blows in and orders a drink he won't take
any change.
"I've had half dozen Of these swells
come in here and order round, one OF them
toss a FIVE spot at me, and then refuse to
take any change. Say, l make SIS every
week above my salary, and it's good salary,
too.
I'm saving money. That's how can
stand It.
But, Lord, it's far away from the Bow
cry. I haven't been on the Bowery for
seven months now, and amt seen show
Sometimes / have bunch to get down for
night and take in Miners Theatre, but
then | can't afford it. and besides, II them
Bowery lights ever gets in my eyes again,
can see me hurting them over McGurks
bar for the rest of my life.
"Sav. here's a funny thing. Since / been
here never got swung once Tor drink.
| Every guy that comes in has the price and
a little over for me.
4 .l.a n
! of the other fixes down on the Bowery
| they'd say l was crazy. Seven months
at the mahogany and mirrors and never
| a swing for a drink! II wouldn't seem
| possible to them.
and haven't had a fight, either. When
| frs, came up here these young French
| Canadian sports see ] was from a mussy
section, and that might like to MUS it up
! with some Of them, so they goes in to guy
| mo.
But Lord. | was wise to them. and
never let them get my alley, and now they
swear by me. I'm the most popular bar
| tender in the place, and there's lot of
| these fellows would quit drinking II l went
| back to he Bowery.
Say, have them vandals that's digging
the tunnel torn up the Bowery' If they
| have, | don't want to go back. The Bow
cry ought to he preserved, that's what it
ought.
fellow Ougnt 10 DE aUle 10 Ieave tne
| Bowerv for fifty years and go back and
| find it Just where he left it. How are things
| going down there
| No don't tell me. don't think can
stand much talk, because ever since you
| gents came in here there's been fever in
| me-. | guess it the old New York fever.
| All New Workers. have il I'm told, but none
so bad az he man from the Bowery.
Il guess III never go back, though. |
can't leave such cinch AZ this. This
| quiet life just suits me No wardmen to
| shake you down, no buns to drive beer
| glass at you as you turn TO make the change,
no bughouse NUT to grab up the free lunch
knife and give you hasty turn or two for
your life; none Of those things.
But say I'd like to see the old Bowery
| once more"
He'll be back in town in week. said one
| of the New Workers. Hes burning up
| with the fever to get back to the Bowery,
and he won't last much longer Mean
while. though. he's trying to fool himself
that he's happy up there"