1931 Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett

Old Waldorf Bar Day s Stone of Scone. The Fin de Siecle came toward the end of the century, when the expression became current in magazines and newspapers, and when lots of Americans were taking their first steps in French. What they said when they meant to order such a cocktail is another matter. Why, you can date many American historical, society, sporting, police and other events by those cocktails when you know the names. There was the Third Degree, invented when everybody in New York was interested in the way tough cops were extracting information from accused persons. Probably it left its imbiber in a state similar to that of the victim of a police inquisition. Added to one-eighth French Vermu th, it consisted of seven-eighths Plymouth Gin, with several dashes of Ab– sinthe. The Good Times cocktail was reminiscent of the socially important coach that once ran from the Wal– dorf doorway to the Woodmansten Inn. The Jitney com– plimented an invention of a Detroit gentleman which was found adaptable to take the place of trolley cars when drivers and conductors went on strike. It may be particularly interesting to that inventor to learn that it was composed of one-half Gin, one-fourth Lemon, one– fourth Orange Juice-and a little Sugar. Then there was the Marconi Wireless; which first sprang across the Bar of the Waldorf when the ancestor of the radio began to raise its ghostly voice; and the Prince Henry, concocted to celebrate the arrival of the once-distinguished Kai– ser's apostolic brother, who was dined and wined pro– digiously in the hotel's grand ballroom just above the Barroom. [ 106]