The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-31
THE SUBWAY TAVERN NO MORE
IT'S TO GO, SAYS NEW MANAGER;
NOT so, SAYS JOE JOHNSON.
Bleecker Street Sends Forth . Rumor
That the Blessed Resort Is to Become
Plain. Ordinary Saloon. With Even
the Fixtures OF = brewery Backer.

That the Blessed Resort IL to Become
Plain. Ordinary Saloon, With Even
the Fixtures OF = brewery Backer
Sad news came out Of the Subway Tavern
last night. w. A. Skidmore Of Brooklyn,
who has been running the rathskeller at
tachment, announced that to-day Is the
last day OF Beautiful Joe Johnson's poor
men 8 club at Blocker and Mulberry streets.
"You can't follow the Lord and chase
the devil at the same time,' said Mr.. Skid
more. II am going to run this place here
after as a plain gin mill. have got the
lease and have made an arrangement with
ing Company"
In Flatbush when this news got out. He
fastened to deny. 1T isn't so at all ;" said
Joe johnson. "Skidmore is simply going
to manage the whole place, that's all. He
| Is genius at management and made the
rathskeller pay 80 we'll that thought he
would be success as general manager
The rathskeller genius had gone himself
to Flatbush by the time Joe johnson rose
up to deny. Earlier in the evening, how
ever, Mr.. Skidmore spoke at length, CIV
ing to the world his plans for turning the
tavern into a plain saloon, to be run ac-
cording to business principles.
According to Mr.. Skidmore, there would
be nothing left OF the place where the
Bishop sang "Old Hundred" after to-day
save the chastened atmosphere and few
melancholy reminders OF the beautiful
one-his white bar coat hanging in a cor
ner, a tract or two, maybe, and "The
Bishop brand of cigars. Mr.. Skidmore
didn't care to explain the details Of how
he got possession from the Subway Tavern
Company and President johnson, but he
said emphatically that he had possession.
and that no more would hymns be chanted
in the ears Of plain people at their beer,
MIR. Skidmore limited that the tavern
had been none too prosperous, emarking
that the sale of rum could never be boosted
by using bung starter as tuning fork.
He elaborated the plans which Mr.. johnson
so earnestly declares are not so.
Mr.. Skidmore purposes, he says, to eradi-
cate every suggestion of the Subway
Tavern. He will remove the swinging
sign which decorates the corner Of Blocker
and Mulberry streets and hang in its place
a businesslike though more prosaic legend.
Mr.. Skidmore has not decided what. 1t
may he known in the future as plain Skid
more's Place" 1t was suggested to him
that pictorial representation Of thunder
bolt rending a great oak might he nice
for a sign. Mr.. Skidmore did not take to
the idea. Neither was he keen about q
design representing the Demon Rum ram
pant, holly chasing the beautiful one. He
thought there was no use to rub 1t In; any
way, Mr.. Skidmore was for business strictly.
The Subway Tavern Company, which was
capitalized at $4,000, had as stockholders
the following persons: r. Fulton Cutting,
r. Bayard Cutting Herbert Parsons, Acosta
Nichols, j. j. Farnsworth, ex-City Chamber
lain f. r. L. Gould, and Harvey j, Luce and
Albert NJ. Hirschfeldt Of the Acker, Merrall
and Condit Company Joe johnson, Jr., was
president of the company and Mr.. Farms
worth was treasurer.
Skidmore will turn the tavern upside
down. He will have no use for Johnson's
water wagon attachment. for says Mr..
Skidmore, what business has gin mill with
a water wagon attachment
1t is not good saloon business to hide
bar in the rear, said Mr.. Skidmore. bar
should be in front easily found by GUS
toners. Therefore the new boss-f he Is
to be the new boss-will transfer the tavern
bar to the front of the house and do away
altogether with the soda water fountain
and the thirsty lady's friend. In the old
barroom, which Mr.. johnson designed for
poor mans club, where the Bishop led the
singing Of Old Hundred, coming all the
way from Cooperstown to bless the bottles,
Mr.. Skidmore will have quick lunch place.
Saddest of all the changes will be the
abolishing of the library and reading room.
In the roseate days when Joe johnson
dreamed Of the tavern as the first of q
chain of poor mems clubs, each paying
s per cent, the Great Acorn loaded the
shelves with light works on the theory OF
infant damnation. UNCONVENTIONAL views
of baptism and the conflict of Arian and
Athanasius. These will have to go, says
Mr.. Skidmore.
Cy Chalmers, the barkeep was in charge
last night. OF the momentous changes
Cy knew naught so he said; but there was
about him an air of melancholy and deep
depression. The Bishop spoke kindly to
him once. He gave way to emotion only
once, when somebody asked him where
the license was.
Damned il know" said Cy. -Tve
never seen it.
Policeman Hines OF the Mulberry street
station took quite an interest in the license.
He told the barkeep that he would have to
arrest somebody IL 1t wasn't produced.
CIV and staff of walters got busy and found
it. A porter had mislaid the document,
said Cy.