The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-22
.SHOEMAKERS BAR IS NOTABLE PLACE Frequented By Great Men
 of the Nation CENTER OF INTEREST Cobwebs Are Never Swept From the Walls and Ceiling-Handles the
 Finest Liquors Obtainable
 in the Word
CENTER OF INTEREST
pv WALTER HARPER

drink. What will you take. Dol | nesi- tate to call for what you want up to the finest imported wines. None of it is poison unless all liquor may be poison. You get the very best of everything at Shoemak- ers, though 1t is hard to believe from the general appearance of the place as you enter.
 But Shoemakers does not live and thrive on appearance. It has reputa- tion, history that is old and venerable to sustain. A visit to Shoemakers is necessary to make trip to Washington complete.
 What you are a practical prohibitionist (what a rarity) and do not drink even away from home? Well you have noth- ing on the proprietors of Shoemakers. August w. Moack, president of the Shoe makers company, never took drink of liquor in his life. The scretary, George Williamson, has not taken a drink in 2 years.
 And yet, let me tell you secret. George Williamson compounded the first rickey that was ever manufactured in this or any other country. Shoemakers
 IS the home Of the rickey, and 1t is proud of the distinction. Many a cracked ice ard sparkling editorial has been written or. the subject of the refreshing rickey, and all have established the contention that the credit for it's manufacture is due to the little, low, dark corner on Pennsylvania avenue which is often re- ferred to as "Cobweb Hall," owing to the fsct that the cobwebs are never swept from the walls and ceiling. But more of those cobwebs later
 One hot, sweltering day. Congressman Joseph K Hickey of Missouri carried his newspaper correspondent friend, Col. Frey Musscy, into Shoemakers for a drink. Williamson concocted the drink according to the instruction of the congressman. It was made of whisky. The congressman was not sure, it is said, what the re- suit would be, but both men pronounced it marvellous George Williamson remem- bered the directions. The drink became popular. not only in Washington, but all over the world
 q is said that it is one of the master pieces of the mixers art But you and I do not even drink when we get away from home. We do not know.
 Approaching Shoemakers from Pennsyl- vania avenue you would look upon it as a dive of the lowest order If you are in Washington and want a drink of cool ing beer or other beverage you would go anywhere else but to Shoemakers. You must have heard of Shoemakers to find and appreciate it. 4
 Ii is a low frame building -crouching between modern structures on either side. Just west is the Washington Post build ing. On the other side is the New Ma tonal theatre. Half a block away on the opposite corner. but on the same side of the avenue, is the New Willard hotel. In the same block behind is the New Eb- bett. Just a block up the avenue is the United States treasury building. Just across the avenue is the district municipal building
 Old fashioned box show windows on each side of the entrance to Shoemakers are about as empty and as dirty as you would expect to find in a low rate dive. On old, faded yellow shades in the win dows are the inscriptions, 'Shoemakers, Established 1859" These signs and the one above the entrance you are sure were painted more than half a century ago.
 Entering the door you find yourself in narrow passage leading back irregu- larly through great stacks of shipping toxes. They may be empty. They are never set in regular line The passage is crooked ard some of the boxes seem to tc in the act of tumbling down on you. The ceiling is low and dingy. It has not been dusted since the plasterers put on the last coating of lime. That was per haps 50 ears ago.
 Abcut 2J feet back you enter the bar. Here the view is but little more inviting than the piled up passage in the front. The bar extends along the side of the room. It is plain mahogany. If 1t was ever polished the time, sign and other in- dication has been forgotten. There is no plate glass or even plain mirror behind the bar There is no tinkling cut glass or gardy splcndor. There are a few bot ties in sight The walls behind the bar ard around the room are lined with relics of other days. Many of these are his tore and of great value. There are swords and other implements of warfare each witE some personal history There are Itwspaper clippings and drawings by. carte enists and Illustrators Some of them sketches of Shoemakers and others have for their subject great men, sena- tors, congressman, judges. poets, his torians and newspaper men who have frequented the place in days gone by.
 Here the ceiling is still low with great hoary cobwebs hanging everywhere. Mat ted in these cobwebs is the dust of ages. The floor is slightly uneven and worn in places by the tread and constant tapping or nervous feet.
 Over these in the corner just at the front end of the bar is large armchair. This is the seat of honor. George Will liamson occupies this chair when it is rot yeilded to the guest of honor. This is sometimes called the poets corner
 During the latter years of Senator Pugh Of Alabama this chair of honor was his throne. He could be found there most every afternoon from about 3 to o'clock the center of a group of statesmen and newspaper correspondents. Senator Pugh related enough good stories sitting there to fill many volumes. and a list of his distinguished listeners would make mighty interesting reading
 ro the left of the main barroom are a number of plain tables of square old oak Plain chairs are arranged at these tables. This section is cut off from the man room only by a row of old dingy rtsts. jf ssN
 Near this line of posts is an old fash
 toned upright heating stove, the Kind you fnc in country stores and sometimes Tn country schoolhouses. It is a wood burn CT and coating of polish would be the surprise of it's existence.
 Tie place is lighted at night by few plain gas burners.
 shoemakers for half century has been the popular rendezvous for politicians, statesmen and newspaper correspond- cnts. More good newspaper stories have been gathered in this dingy little old place than any other place in the capital unless. of course, in the halls of Con- grcss or at the White House.
 want to add that Shoemakers is not 3 dive In any sense. It is one of the