Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-11
Cities
and People
Genial and
XeniuI'
BY ROBERT J. LEWIS

> VAN "SAAu OOu1 OColCO
are a bit outmoded today.
You wonder, sometimes,
how they happened to fall
into such a classically desul-
tory state.
Only a few generations
ago, strangers received a
hearty welcome. They were
invited to sit down, tarry
awhile, talk things over, en-
Joy a respite before resuming
their journey.
The warmth of individual
people spilled over to the
cities and gave them a hos
pitable glow. A definite code,
or tradition, governed a
city's welcome to the stran-
ger. If he came with or
dinarily good intentions,
everyone wanted his stay to
be pleasant.
Hidden away on Page 2644
Of Webster's Third New In
ternational Dictionary is the
word for this. The word is
"xenial." It denotes the
hospitality relationship be-
tween host and guest.
IN ANCIENT TIMES, this
concept applied particularly
to the way people of diff
ferent cities were treated
when they paid each other
a visit.
In today's world, it applies
to the way the city treats
both the stranger and ma
tive, too.
How much courtesy can be
expected? What are the
ways in which a stay can be
made pleasant? Is the quail
ity Of its attractions really
worthy Of the city?
1t also means hospitable
Ravens as well as hospitable
people. It m e a n s inviting
places, and a sound of music.
It means the flourish Of life,
and enlivening hues, that put
a welcoming smile on the
city's face.
Should Washington's xe-
NAL relationship with the
rest of the world also mean,
perhaps, that an aperitif
could be slipped outdoors in a
sidewalk cafe, as the world
goes by?
Or must the city's guest be
condemned, instead, to sit
staring at himself in the
murky mirror OF i gin-mill
bar at cocktail time?
So
FOR A SPECIAL REASON
and more than any other
American city Washington
wishes to consider its obliga-
lions for hospitality. AS a
city, 1t belongs to the rest of
the country. AS the seat of
Government, it is a symbol
to the rest Of the world.
It wants to extend a well
come. But what will the law
allow? Can a cocktail be
served at a sidewalk cafe?
The law seems to say one
thing.
But, when you look at it
again, it could be saying an
other.
It tells you, for example,
that a cocktail may be served
in a restaurant.
1t also tells you that a res
taurant can be "a suitable
space in a suitable building
-. including suitable space
outside of the building
kept, used, maintained, adj
vertised and held out to the
public to be a place where
meals are served. :"
This means that a side
walk cafe is part of a res
taurant, within the meaning
of the law.
If a sidewalk cafe is part
Of a restaurant Git Isl, and
If a cocktail can be served
in a restaurant (Which can
be done), would it not be en-
tirely legal to serve a cock
tail in a sidewalk cafe?
Except for another provi-
sion of the law, the answer
would be Eyes" Because of
this provision, the answer
must be Perhaps"
For this provision says
people shan't drink" or "be
drunk" Gin any street,
alley, park, or parking; or in
any vehicle in or upon the
same. :"
If the part Of the sidewalk
licensed as a sidewalk cafe
becomes legally no longer a
part Of the thoroughfare
hit. instead mart of a res