1931 Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett

PART III HaU of Fame I A TRADITION, established by the old melodrama, Ten Nights in a Barroom, since strengthened by much pulpit and other oratory, and aided and abetted by Con– gressional eloquence-not infrequently belched from "moist" throats for the satisfaction of the ears of ballot- ,, boxes in parched regions-maintains that a barroom was a vile place. No man of any self-respect would venture thereinto, in broad daylight, without looking to right or left to make sure that nobody whose good opinion he valued was in sight. One is quoting a tradition. Entrance to such a "gin mill" was gained through a pair of shutters, or by passing to one side of a shuttered screen. Loitering in the offing were shabby women and hungry children, aware that Father was inside, squan– dering in drink the money that should provide them with food and clothes. Finally, after their hours of vigil, Father would stagger out-or be thrown out. A timid wife would tearfully approach and beseech him to regard [ 21]