New-York tribune., 1922-08-28
Continued from gage one)

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lishments and that it has transformed
those who are left from comparatively
free spenders to the tightest of tight
wads.
This testimony is universal. You
get the same tale in the most modest
resorts as in the most gorgeous. 1t
has long been bitter complaint with
the restaurant men that prohibition is
wrecking their business, and the rapid
ity with which the less firmly estab-
lished cabarets drop from sight and
change owners or names is eloquent
of the lack of attraction which the fu-
ture holds.
IN sticking because I'm in so deep
that ] can't get out without going
broke" the chief stockholder and man
ager of one of the brightest spots on
Broadway said on Saturday. And
I'm hoping for beer and wine, like the
rest OF them. Just hoping, that's all.
There isn't anything else to do
Regular Guys All Gone
The head walters and the floor men
and the coat room girls and the cigar
cite sellers and the orchestra leaders
and everybody else tell the same
story. These guys aren't regular" a
blond cigarette vender said, with a
contemptuous toss of her bobbed head
toward the apathetic pleasure seekers.
They're ten-minute eggs, looking to
get by, and that let's them out. You'd
have to knock 'em cold to pry them
loose from nickel Suggest that
somebody buy something in this Joint
and the cops'll be here on the run
with the wagon in less than ten fat.
1T hadn't used to be that way. NV
oldest sister peddled smokes in here
years ago, before she married man,
I've only been here year, but YOU
should hear my sister tell about the
lads IN the old days who used to buy
80 worth of smokes at throw and
overlook the change from a ten spot.
They do that now--buy for five and
leave ten-but they're dealing in pen
nies, not bills. Not that I'd sch any
nickel cigars, you understand she
added hastily, "but you know what
mean; they're like that"
The judgment of nicotine's hand
maiden was confirmed by half dozen
head walters. "Not only we don't oet
the people, but the ones we do get
aren't the free spepders they used to
be- one of them said. He waved a
hand toward the fringe of tables sur
rounding the dance floor, where unoc-
cupled seats showed up like bald spots.
LOOK at that for a Saturday night.
None Of the Broadway restaurants
are making any real money these days.
we Know 1T. When the walters don't
make money the boss doesn't male
any either. The man who tins for
10 cents figures he's paid for his fun
when t1s convert charge hits him, and
II ne orders ginger ale and sandwiches
ne thinks he's royalty"
Automobile Blamed
There was another student of Broad
way psychology who had slightly diff
ferent slant on the situation. at ISM
ali prohibition" he said. "a lot of it
Is, put lot OF it's automobiles, espe-
cialiy IN the summer. The two of
them together have about put this
ers all have fast cars and thew nick
up their lady friends and drive then,
out INTO the country before they take
the rubber band off the old bank roll
Why not? You take a roadhouse .
hundred miles from a prohibition an
| forcement agent, and with all the local
authorities taken care of, thew can
get away with murder; but you couldn'f
get drink in good restaurant on
- ooI"ay to-HlEnJ unless you owned
the place--and probably not then. The
| speakeasies get away with it, and the
shore joints, and most everybody else
| but not us. We don't dare trv. and
| that's all there is to it. The risks
too great" 'A
No evidence that appeared on satur.
Gay night contradicts this. In every
cabaret serious-minded walters urged
| their customers to buy near beer y,
fruit punch. They highly recommeudeI ed I'd
the fruit punch. It had red cherries
in it and looked very pretty, but kick !
of it. ''sup iu''
Here. and there appeared a secret;vs
order for mineral water or ginper ale
Mineral water invariably denotes the M
presence OF a flask, and ginger ale nine
times out of ten. But the hosts WIN
something on the hip were mild
bunch. nI Nobody in sight waved flask
The private stock was carefully con.
| served, its container produced unde,
cover of the table for just long enonel
to make the transfer from fasI T. :
tumbier and no longer. There : NJ
more prideful egotism in drink;nc
ostentatlously. The prospect OF a visit
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