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Old Waldorf Bar Days
never got higher than something like district superin–
tendent for his company, but he was a diplomatist and
an excellent salesman. And how many tangles he
straightened out during his lifetime for politicians,
statesmen, business men and average citizens who told
him their matrimonial troubles, one could only guess
who ·knew both him-and many he served.
KNIGHTS OF THE PALATE
In
the crowd, about the end of the first decade of the
century, came to be noticed four or five men whose
occupation, when disclosed, opened the eyes of many
other patrons, who had not heard of such a job. They
were tea-tasters, and got big salaries for the judicial
exercise of their palates. They developed in time into
champagne drinkers, and so exclusive were they, that
they would patronize only the Hoffman House bar and
theWaldorf. And, avers one who knew them, "Bright's,"
in time, got most of them.
Some of the new-money men and strangers who
turned the handle of the south door, found in the Grill
room certain novelties that awed them. At one end had
been installed an elaborate "silver grill," as it was
called, where patrons could view cooks in white caps
and coats and aprons plying their trade. In the center
of the room was an elaborate cold buffet, whereon, after
the fashion in vogue in certain well-known restaurants
abroad, one viewed an array of tempting cold dishes,
in composition and decoration unfamiliar to many who
looked upon
th~m.
But this was not all.
By the side of the buffet table was a pool, where real,
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