1935 Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book

152 OLD WALDORF-ASTORIA BAR BOOK But, be it also emphasized, that Bar was not regarded as a place of "ill-repute." In its early days, particularly, men of the highest reputation frequented it; some never went from their offices downtown to their homes without calling in for at least an appetizer-or something to make them forget the worry or turmoil of the day's work. Any– body could look in, and most every man who entered the Waldorf-Astoria in those days did look, at least once. It was known all over the country; in mining camps from Mexico to Alaska, it evoked recollections of tastes and odors that parched many a throat. As a matter of fact, its fame was world-wide. Visitors to the Old Waldorf during its latter days found difficulty, did they seek to recreate the picture of that great hall where Bacchus so long drew his greatest throngs of pilgrims and devotees, and where such, in turn, drew in– spiration of the widest spirituous variety. On the spot mostly occupied by the great bar counter, a humidor had been built, and ex-tanks who came and looked through a once popular doorway often could not remember which was the proper direction to cast their sighs of regret. The back entrance from the lobby-past the telephone switch– board-with its inviting facilities for gentlemen whose capacity had been stretched, had been closed, and here young women armed with pencils and typewriters were taking dictation from industrial, financial, railway and le– gal magnates, ..so classed. Across the room and against a partition were desks for various managerial heads and factotums. And when one's eye reached that partition they had embrac;:oo only half of the room where for decades the thirsty had libationed from eight in the morning until closing time. The second part of the great oak-wainscoted