New-York tribune., 1907-01-14
STILL A MEAL
LIQUOR FOR THE THIRSTY.
Ne5o Ercise Interpretation Makes
Little Apparent Change.

A man with thirst did not have 70 buy meal
yesterday before he could quench it-at least his
meal wasn't any larger than usual Last week
the Appellate Division decided that those who
went to hotels or restaurants TO drink on Sunday
must also buy meal Incidentally the court said
it just obligatory for the customer 70 order
the meal in good faith it for the hotel or
restaurant keeper to serve II.
Apparently the problem in tho decision which
troubled the minds of proprietors the old one
Of when is a sandwich a meal. After much
cogitaton. Of them decided yesterday morn
ing that the hunger satisfying properties OF
sandwich was entirely dependent on whether the
customer paid for it. II he did not pay for it it
was not meal-cOnStructive aCtual-hut II the
customer did give up extra nickel for the prop
erty sandwich then h had such satisfactory
meal that the law would allow him to drink all he
desired
A few-a very few-of the second rate Tender
loin cafes" including those where there are
signs that Ladies' are allowed to smoke" hanked
by others requesting that profane language be
used raised the price their patrons by charg-
ing for the prop slice OF bread with a micro
scopic thread of wienerwurst that did duty all
day. 1t only in few places of this class
that any difference from previous Sundays could
be SEEN The saloons Of the Tenderlon did bust
the different Interpretation OF
the sandwich law making no difference to them.
At a few Of the big hotels, where the walters
have been somewhat lax in their observance of the
sandwich regulation they insisted rather notice
ably that order for food OF sort be given
with an order for drink. Still. the regular
irons OF the Broadway restaurants. well those
OF the hotels had little difficulty in getting their
drinks without the show of eating In dozen or
more the serving bars thrown open to the
regular patrons and for long hours thickly
surrounded by thirsty the bar Of Cherry
Hill shop cold day
At one Of the big Broadway restaurants three
young tried TO get a. drink at OF the tables
The waiter took the order for liquor and disap-
peared After the proper interval he returned and
started to set tho glasses the table. Before the
customers noticed what was being done the head
waiter rushed up and had the glasses sent away
He apologzed and explained alternately for some
time until he had fully set forth that food must be
ordered.
"Ar right said of the party you serve
half portion Of most anything. can't your
Surely. sir
"Au right. then. cut 1t smaller and bring one
ham sandwich for three
After thinking for a moment the waiter brought
three plates, and then bore in undersized ham
sandwich divided like GauI Then, all requirements
of the law having been satisfied much liquor
consumed
At another place. when the liquor refused
without food the way to the serving bar was i'm
parted in a confidential whisper If the customer
looked ITO the good
At the cheaper restaurants along Sixth and
Eighth avenues and in Third avenue a few places
were found which had decided to sell their sand
wches rather than give them away. At most Of
them, however the transaction was more in the
nature of loan. For nickel might have a
sandwich for from five minutes to five hours, so
long as the orders for drinks came rapidly enough
When the customer went away the sandwich
generally returned none the worse for wear. ready
70 De loaned atresh by the proprietor.
A few-those behind in the monthly assessments
resorted to subterfuges of sort another.
One Ranes law hotel In TbiTd P avenue hsd sgn
in the back room which read