The Washington herald., 1918-12-26

Special Correspondent Of The Washington Herald,
New York. Dec. 25.-ft developed at
racy divorce suit in high life. in
which pajamas. country hotels and
jazz rooms figured. that the defendant,
beautiful society girl. had spent
, ssle in two days for liquor. This ap-
petite even startled the court and the
| investigation proved that the young
woman was merely In fear Of the bone
dry era and packed in a supply.
Those who assault jaded appetites
with pre-dinner cocktails are having
difficulty getting enough gin to lay
away. Gin that used to sell at IS
cents quart, is now being retaiied
for s. a quart. and the supply seems
to be diminishing.
Nearly everybody in New York who
believes that liquor is the most nee
essary equipment for entertaining has
begun to prepare against the dry sea-
son. Closets that formerly held old
clothes are now packed solidly with
everything from light wine to liquors.
Down on Long Island the cellars
are filled to capacity against what the
fast sets call The Day. Business men
who do a great deal Of entertaining
are spending thousands of dollars for
liquor.
] When the time comes for the hotel
and cafe bars to close. there will be
public sales of stock and the bidding
will be spirited in more ways than
one. New York is trying to believe
that matters will be adjusted so that
a dry nation will never become a
reality
Owners of places where the chief
revenue is from drinks have not yet
decided where to turn. Rectors. PaIais
Royal, Churchill's, Healy's, the Beaux
Arts and all the rest of the smart
eating and drinking places cannot
exist without the sale of drinks it
is said. Yet only few more months
remains and none of the managers
has taken steps to provide substi-
tute.
1t is difficult TO conceive OF Broad
Of its institutions thrive on booze.
| Many say that on account of ccaSo-
tions and returning warriors Brosd-
way will have for its last fling the
gayest winter in history. Signs are
already to this effect.
Smart shops on Fifth avenue have
introduced an interesting little in
noVation. A short distance from
the entrance there are smoking
chairs for men and women. with
cigarettes, plentifully DISPLAYED.
Pretty young girls greet the GUS
toners and II there is a rush invite
them to be stakeholder both the
women and the men cigarettes and
then light the matches. 1t is sur
prising the number of women. who
seem pleased to accept this sort of
hospitality and who do not hesitate
to smoke publicly.
He is the owner OF a very excIu-
sive jewelry shop on the avenue.
He has a huge fortune. Many moth
ers have set their caps for him for
their debutante daughters. He is
not bad fellow and best OF all not
a snob. Every night he may be
found at Jacks. where group of
writers and artists hang out. IA.
is a hero worshipper of the artist
and the writer. big and small. He
delights in being in their company.
He is always willing to pay all the
checks and he would do it night
after night II permitted. He wants
to entertain them at his home.
Somehow there is a barrier. No one
seems to know just what il is. They
all like him. But 1t cannot be said
he is one of them. And yet there
isn't a home in the social-elect cir
Cles that would not welcome him
at any time.
The Metropolitan Opera House had
a new type of entertainment the
other Sunday. All the Christian
Science Churches in New York rent
ed the large building to present a
lecturer on Christian Science. Ad-
mission was free and by card only.
Lines nine blocks long were in wait
ing before the doors were thrown
open.