The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-10
"THE ONLY WILLIAM" IS DEAD.
ne Was the king OF Dartenders and HIS
Mixtures We're Pure Sunshine.

ne Was the King OF Dartencers and Hill
Mixtures Were Pure Sunshine.
William Schmidt, known throughout the
land as THE Only William died ON Sun
day afternoon after brief illness. He vii
be- buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Long
Island. The date of the funeral is not yet
| fixed.
For more than twenty years The Only
William was one Of the institutions of New
York for strangers from afar to see. He
was the king Of all bartenders, peerless and
I beyond compare in his profession. He
made OF bartending a fine art. Clad in his
spotless white jacket and apron he was a
| monarch holding court as be. stood behind
the polished rosewood Of his counter, a
smiling, kindly, gracious sovereign, shows
ering a sunshine VI cordial courtesy and
good win on all who came for his ministra-
tons, Perhaps some part OF this sun
shine got into the divine conlcoctions he
mixed At all events there was radiant,
e1hilarating something infused into VIII
ham's masterpieces OF mixture which was
IN no other beverage prepared by tho hand
Of man,
No critic was ever subtle enough to an
alyze thoroughly one of Williams finer
the firm, Doric simplicity of the core of the
structure he Created that delicate aroma
which hung over the solid reality behind
II, softening and tinting all its outlines
yet never obsouring its strong, searching
realities, no mere soul blunted fumbler in
chemical anAlytics, however sklful he
might be, ever revealed. lt was past
revelation. 1t was n part Of all that was
radiant and kindly and gentle in the soul
OF William himself. With William gone
the art has gone.
There was only one William. There
never can be another The title THE
Only William came to him many years
ago. and was prophetic in its truth. There
are and will be other baryonders, but the
magic touch OF the vanished hand il gone
forever I'd
Probably 1t was the late Julian Ralph
who discovered William and revealed him
20 the world. Mr.. Ralph wrote of him.
and his fame spread from shore TO shore
of the continent. AS long ago as the
sos. when Williams studio was in a
hosiery close by the Manhattan entrance
TO the Bridge, stran gers from as far away
as San Francisco came downtown 10 visit
William and behold him in the compost
ton of one Of his masterpieces. BY word
Of mouth and by printed page bis fano
spread even beyond sens.
His art had It's effect upon the growth
OF New York as a delightful place of resi-
depoe. People who had once come under
the charm OF Williams genius never we're
quite satisfied when they returned to less
favored communities, where they were
deprived of this source of refining culture
Many are said TO have been influenced to
on small degree by(William's GIFTS to leave
their old abodes and come TO live Iperma-
nently in New York. Williams art, too,
had its effect upon international relations
No foreigner. however hostile he might be
to America. could ever absorb one Of Will
lian's masterpieces without hndlier senti-
ments warming his heart toward nation
that possessed such treasure.
His fame really was international. Every
body downtown who il old enough renen-
bers the famous dinner at Aouquin's which
William gave on the eve OF his departure for
Europe-the first visit after many years
10 his old parents back in the German
village where he was born. Hearty senti-
ments Of goodwill were expressed for Will
liam then, and he fairly illuminated all the
room with the pure and unadulterated
kindness and happiness that inundated
hisswhoR soul. As for that special punch
which William then and there brewed with
his own hands-there are some things
which cannot even be mentioned without
vergng upon .saorilege.
William went home, taking his sheaves
with him. His fame had reached its height
then. lie had his pockets full of Newspaper
clippings telling Of his distinctions. Public
prints OF Importance contained his portrait
n great gay IN the HUG village Whus his
return to his own home. He showered
presents and sunshine on everybody farand
near. It was a continuous village festival
while he was there. Then he came back
10 America again, and in his American
home found warm and sincere friends 10
welcome him.
Some two months ago Williams health
gave way. His employer. ]. j. Clark at
0 Park place, urged him 20 take a rest.
He did 30, but he did not improve. A
month later he was taken TO Bellevue Hos
pital hopelessly i'll IL was a complication
OF disorders. Ten days ago his mind gave
way and then the end came Quickly. He
has brother in Hoboken and a niece who
- married 10 an assistant in ono Of the
large public libraries Of the city,