1908 The Hoffman House Bartender's Guide by Charles S Mahoney

sometimes very expensive and will make quite a hole in the estimated profits. In any event, in closing the bargain, in paying money, and receiving receipts, and other incidentals, it is safe to engage the services of a lawyer, who is familiar with such details, one who will protect your interests, and one who will be quick to notice the changing of a sentence which may mean some thing entirely different from what was intended. The bartender who you may inherit from the former owner may be worth retaining because he may have a large personal following, and so be able to control considerable trade, so it is not poor policy to arrange with him in advance. He may demand high wages, but he may be worth them. The mere mixing and serving of drinks does not alone fix a barman's value, as temperament, disposition and magnetism have a lot to do with it. It stands to rea son that the man who draws and can control custom is worth more than the dummy who is merely an automatom. When the bill of sale has been made out and is ready for the signatures, glance over it, and see that there is a clause stipulating that the owner shall not open another saloon within a specified time nor in your .vicinity. Such things have happened and the good will—which really means trade—has been di verted from the old place to a new establishment within a week or so.

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