The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-02
BY HENRY McLEMORE United Press Staff Correspondent)

New York, Feb 2@((UP)- Never before in the history of the United States have bartenders been faced with greater challenge than now, Fritz of the Ritz told this months graduating class at the January commencement exercises at Bartenders school to-day. A nations taste, duller by years of bathtub gin, home brew, hair tonic and sterno, must be restored, and the shudders which these connections produced must be for ever obliterated from the memory of American drinkers, he said, in his baccalaureate address.
 q cannot speak at length today" Fritz of the Ritz said, flor l must hasten back to my bar. Un- fortunately, my second bartender, who takes charge in my absence, did not have the benefits of uni versity training and will not re- member that ice, and not liquor, is the basis of most drinks. Besides, he has four relatives working ill the hotel.
 Know Their Stuff
 "But to allow me to congratu- late you on the splendid manner in which you have responded to train ing. One month ago when you knew nothing of bartending. l dare say there wasn't a one of you who could distinguish cash cus- | toner from a sports writer. Your Valedictorian was an upholsterer; your historian, who, by the way, is destined to make his mark with his horsenecks, was an ironwork- CT; your Salutatorian was an as- sistant in a dental plate factory, and your class prophet a tire vul- canizer. To-day you stand ready to plaster nation.
 "This nation is in great need of capable bartenders. Only last night witnessed, in a night club, an in- cident which opened my eyes to the influence wielded by our profess sion. At the table next to mine were a lady and two gentlemen. They ordered Martinis. The bar tender, obviously an unskilled one, sent out Martinis of uneven color. The lady promptly noticed her drink was darker than those of her escorts. Being darker she im- mediately suspected it of being stronger. And, quite naturally, she accused her companions of con- spring to get her pie-eyed. For some sinister purpose.
 | "One word led to another, and in a few seconds the lady, so laugh ing, so happy moment before, had her dukes up, and soon was throwing more fists than Harry Greb at his best. Dear old Harry Greb! How I miss him."
 Memories
 Fritz of the Ritz paused to brush away a tear and take a shot of bourbon.
 "Greb paid me one of the finest compliments I ever received. A few hours before he fought Gene Tunney the first time, Harry walked into my place and asked me to give him something to brace him up. When Ee walked out he turned at the door, did three handsprings and then, climbing up on the swinging doors, gave the cleverest imitation of a chimpanzee I've ever seen.
 "Fritz," he said, "you get me in the best condition of any trainer ever had :.
 "Ah, 4aen of bartenders, we don't have fighters like Harry any more. He'd go through the present crop of middleweights without anything stronger than beer. The only fighter can stand to watch, now that Bill Petrolel has quit, is Tony Canzoncri. I'm going down to watch him fight Cleto Locatelli at the Garden tonight. And as a parting message, men of bartend- CTS, let me glvo you this tip: At 2 tot 1 Canzoneri is like money rom home. Get your roll down on him."