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Old Waldorf Bar
Days
closing time. The second part of the great oak-wain–
scoted hall had been converted into a bus station, and
there one bought tickets for Montclair, the Oranges, and
other points in New Jersey, or else for New Haven and
other way stations to Boston.
LABORATORY OF BACCHIC ENDEAVOR
Some of the decorations of the temple remained. For
example, two great Egyptian-like bronze figures still
stood one on either side of the private entrance to the
Jade Room, which did not look like a door at all until
you found the handle-not easy for one who had lingered
over his liquor. Then there was still one picture, "The
Ballet Dancer," which in that long-past age referred to
probably inspired more toasts than any other single
painting in the world; which turned more men in the
direction of art-connoisseuring than any other example
of high art known, and whose legs and lingerie caused
far more comment and centered more scrutiny than all
the cigarette pictures of stage favorites in tights that
used to help sell "coffin nails," as they were termed,
during the days when "The Ballet Dancer's" reign was
being established. On the opposite wall hung the big copy
of Paolo Veronese's "Wedding at Cana, in Galilee," for
the delectation of those whom liquor puts or leaves in an
attitude proper for the cop. templation of religious sub–
jects. High above the paneling still hung some of the
elks' heads with which the late George
C.
Boldt adorned
the place, now, in the old hotegs last stages, looking
moth-eaten, if not somewhat unsanitary.
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