Valentine's manual of old New York

(New York. :  Valentine's Manual, inc.,  1923.)

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VALENTINE'S MANUAL

nessy more than fifty years in bottle, that we served at
one dollar. That was the highest price ever known for
a drink of liquor in America up to that time, and some¬
times the check used to "faze" the newcomer who called
for "the best." Four ordinary-looking fellows came in
to me one day, and one of them said he kept a saloon in
Albany, and his friends were Albanians and they wanted
the very best in the house. I served them the antique
Hennessy—four drinks—with four bottles of C Sz: C
ginger ale—^the latter 50 cents a bottle—on the side. The
Albany saloon-keeper laid down a $2 bill—a good big
price in those days, too. I said, "The check is $6." He
gasped and stared, but paid without a word. He seemed
astounded—almost befuddled—and watched me with a
curious eye while I rang up the check, "$6.00." I hap¬
pened to be in Albany several years after, and, meeting
a friend, he asked me into a saloon nearby for a "nip."
The proprietor, who was behind the bar, was my old
visitor. As we advanced, my friend introduced me by
name as an old New York boy and said the Albany man
ought to become acquainted with me. "Acquainted!"
shouted my friend behind the bar—glaring—"Ac¬
quainted ! I'll never forget that man! Why, he charged
me six dollars for four drinks once."

The old Fifth Avenue Hotel, just two blocks below us
on Broadway, had one of the grandest bars of its time—
and it was very select, too. No person in any condition
approaching intoxication could get in, because the bar
was in a large room away back from the street and sev¬
eral porters were always on guard. A man had to be a
gentleman and in first-rate condition to get into the Fifth
Avenue bar. On the way in you passed the famous
"Amen Corner" where more state and national politics

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