The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-05
Bishop POtter'S Tavern
An Ordinary Saloon
Slight Difference Between 1t and the Usual
Place of Selling Liquor-Bessing
BOOms the Trade.

dozen or more secular and religious
magazines that at times during the day
were taken down and fingered over by
some OF the customers and then care
fully put back by the attendants.
All Kinds of Booze.
With all these accessories of club
life-Bishop Potter calls the saloon the
poor mans club-the place is just COM
mon. ordinary saloon and nothing more.
Across the polished surface Of the bar
were showed schOOners of beer. high
balls, cocktails, fixes of gin anG riclIcys,
anything and everything to supply the
varied demand for booze"
All day long these soothing concoc-
tons gurgled down the threats OF the
thirsty, while between drinks We're sung
snatches OF the DoXOlogy and we'll
known hymns
This Joint bein' blessed by a bishop,
anything touchin' on and apperttinin 20
religion Is entirely appropriate declared
d red-nosed follower of Big BIZ Dew
cry. who had deserted his usual haunt
on Canal Street for a sight or the new
rum shop.
The head barkeepcr frowncd on the
singing, and then wiped his hands on
his apron and started around the end OF
the bar. Just then Manager Joe John-
son appeared and admonished the Canal
Street visitor that no icreverence would
bC AOlNl aNCN
Saloonkeepers Inspect Place.
Nearly all the other saloonkeepers in
the neighborhood dropped in during the
day to look the place over and find out
what kind of whisky the new Joint"
is selling for 10 cents a drink.
Many were from the Bowery, and some
are worried over OBJECTIONS in the ranks
Of their regular customers. due, they
fear. to the superior attractiyenesS OF
the Bishops place" as 1t Is known In
the neighborhoOd.
The thigh hats of beer in the new
place make the biggest schoOners In the
Bowery grog shops look small.
Toward noon the seductive odor of an
appetizing free lunch drew many Gus
toners. At the same time the 'groWl-
err trade commenced, and the three
barkcepers worked at double speed for
two hours Big, husky laborers came
in, spent 10 cents for beer and made
meal at the beef stew and corned beer
sandwiches dispensed from the side ia
BILE.
LoafeIs Rushed for Lunch.
I.oafers who had been hanging around
half the morning. in anticipation Of that
lunch, made a rush for the counter. some
Of them forgetting the beer In their
haste. The duck chasers' drank tier
soup and pushed through the swinging
UOOTS. a can III one manu- anu a otNA+o
witch IN another, not stopping to look at
the cartoons or pictures on the wall
The Manager Explains.
At one time during the rush hour sew
enty-one men were in the saloon, and
none were there just to look around.
either.
AS the afternoon wore away and the
gurgling stream Of malt md distilled
~. aFa.-s Of "a
place found time TO talk.
Just TO get an understanding before
you tell US about this thing. do you be-
lieve il all right to drink alcoholic
liquors?'' he was asked as preliminary
question. u believe IL Is Injurious" he
replied. Whether It IS right depends
on the viewpoint.
Ever since history began liquor has
been drunk and you can't stop II In a
day You can't raise drinking public
TO be a non-drinlking public at one step.
and here We have taken the HFSt OF
series OF steps.
First we furnish a better place to
drink in and better stuff 70 drink. Then.
perhaps, we can get TO stil higher
plane
Hoping to Be Encouraged
This place, too. partakes more of the
club idea. a man can come here and
sit all afternoon without getting hint
TO move on whether he buys anything
OF not.
at was limited that II the number Of
hangers-on and lOafers is any Indication
of what will come when the weather
gets too cold 70 sit In the park the
chairs in the saloon will be filled. md
the paying customers whose money
goes toward the 3 per cent which Man
ager Johnson says Is all the pront
that will be accepted. Will have 10 stand
M and eat their sandwiches"
"Oh, in that case some OF the longest
sitters might be requested to move on,
said the manager, with a smile