26 / 278
T
Es gibt ein altes Sprichwort aus dieser Zeit:
The Cocktail blows him to a man.
Der Cocktail blahte ihn zum Manne.
So wurde der Cocktail Tradition und mit seinen vielen heutigen
verfeinerten Zusammenstellungen eine «Blahung» fiir verschiedene
Hahnenkampfe und andere Vergniigungen.
Auch das Boxen ist amerikanische National-Tradition geblieben
und ist heute noch fiir Armee und Polizei obligatorisch.
Speakeasy
The term «Speakeasy» is an American word of quite recent origin.
While the Bar and the Saloon are licenced and therefore lawful
concerns as they pay a yearly tax, the Speakeasy, on the other
hand, is an illegal secret business which more or less escapes Govern
ment control.
The very name Speakeasy defines clearly enough the nature and
purpose of these establishments.
I have visited hundreds of Speakeasies of every kind and have
spent in this manner many a happy and interesting hour. Many
Speakeasies have an excellent cuisine with very selected menus and
practically all drinks that the most exacting connoisseur could
possibly desire.
The globetrotter, the man from overseas, the man of the world,
the sailor, et cetera, are all closely connected with the life in the
bar. It belongs to their very existence. Without the bar their life
would be meaningless, and it is only natural that wherever they
land it is in the Speakeasy, that they look for and find comrades
with similar tastes.
On my return to Europe I was naturally very pleased to discover
the Speakeasy depicted in this book. When I read the words
«Speakeasy» and «01d Timer's Saloon» I could not help smiling
and I said to myself: Well, here you're sure to find a bartender
who is really a character, and I was not mistaken.
Founded and built up on the ideas of the author of this book, the
internal and external make-up proved the outstanding business
ability of the American bartender. The outside attracts the for
eigner, the globetrotter, and above all the English-speaking visitor.
.26