The Washington herald., 1921-01-16
New York City
Day by Day
BY o. o. MCINTYRE.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-Only a
handful Of cabarets are left in New
York of the hundreds that dotted
all sections of the city prior to pro-
hibition. The few remaining-in
most instances-are those whose
proprietors fiirt with prison by SELL
ing liquor openly.
The cabaret might have remained
a part Of the froth and glitter of the
New York White Way had it not
been for the eternal greed that
seems to be a composite part of the
New York restaurateur and hotel
man.
Instead of adding something new
and making their places attractive
they decided that it was all over and
for the remaining few months of
life they would gouge the public
and they did, good and properly.
They revised their menus so that
in one place aside from a 50 cover
charge, a charge of so cents was
made for bread and butter and only
the tiniest portions were served at
most eXtravagant prices. We'll
get the hicks" said the cafe man
but the hick is a rare dodo when it
comes to being gold d-bricked-the
comic papers Notwithstanding.
The hick went on his merry way
to the theater, the movies and to
other places where the spirit of the
James boys did not prevail. The
cabaret depends largely on tran
sients but it must have also some
city trade to keep it going.
New York girls refused to permit
their escorts to take them to places
where a dinner for two would cost
the escorts entire salary for the
week. AS a result there came into
being hundreds of small and cozy
restaurants in private houses and
side streets where good food was
served, but where there we've no
music or dancing.
They have entirely taken the
place for the cabaret, for the tran
sients have found out about them
and as the atmosphere of these
place encourages easy familiarity,
the transients feel more at home
than they did in the old-time cab
aret.
men, lOO, crop OF dancing
places burgeoned in the Tenderloin.
they are places where a couple may
go for small admission and dance.
only soft drinks are served. Cou-
pies who used to visit the cabarets
now go to these dance places.
The hotels and cafes hit by pro-
hibition are determined to make the
guest pay the bill. An idea of
liquor revenue may be gained from
the Knickerbocker, which closed
shortly after prohibition. 1t made
$5OO,0O0 annually out of the liquor
sold in the hotel bar and rooms.
Many of the hotels are selling
liquor openly, it is said. OF course
1t you ask the waiter to be served
drink he will tell you that it is
not permitted. The same informa-
tion comes from the clerks, but II
you, go to the newsstand there are
agents who will deliver anything
you want to the room. This is
dodge to absolve the hotel manaee-
meht. although it is understood the
agents are in the employ of the
hotel.
Incidentally nearly all the hotels
are now charging for cracked ice
and Ice water, and a charge of 10
cents Is exacted for each water
glass or high ball glass that is
brought to a room.
There is high optimism among the
workers who have been laid off by
the business depression. Nearly all
are confident that they will return
to their jobs shortly. A diamond
cutter is now running an elevator
in a building I frequently visit.
His salary is just what his days
wage used to be. But I'll have nv
old job back soon, and it is better
to be employed" he said. Others
seem to feel the same way and are
accepting makeshift jobs to tide
them over.
WarIn.o- Mel NJ