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Conviviality and conversation^ two ofthefiner arts which
disappearedduring the thirteen gloomy years ofprohibition
have returned with repeal.
No longer will it be necessary to sneak up a back flight
of stairsfor a hasty swallow or to call "George" on the
telephonefor an illicit delivery. America has decided on
a return to sanity and goodfellowship.
But, unfortunately, an older generation, its memory
dimmed,must struggle toforget the mannerisms and tastes
of the bathtub gin era and a younger generation, un
educated to what is proper in drinking and with throats
raw from bootleg poison,faces the task of learning the
refinements necessary in order to secure thefullest enjoy
mentfrom legal alcoholic beverages.
Fortunately,amongthat oldergeneration there were men
practiced and skilled in the vocation of selecting, mixing
and serving palatable drinks and many of them are eager
and ready to display their talents and please a long suffer
ing public.
The authors of this book are two of these men. With a
backgroundrich in experience,Joseph and Charles Sasena,
have prepared a guide to serve those who areforced to plead
ignorance and they have done it in a manner which will
bring approvalfrom the most critical. Complete, concise,
their list of selected mixed drinks, accompanied by com
prehensive instructions, will cause one to wonder what
madness descended on the people of these United States
when they ratified the "noble experiment".
Years of knowledge and wisdom have been drawn upon
by the Sasena brothers in the preparation of this encyclo
pedia. Not a detail is lacking. Both of these masters in
thefine art of drinking have been at the Cleveland Athletic
Clubfor over 30years.
For those who like thefestive table,the cheering tap room
and the jovial bier garten ... let this book bring them
happiness and contentment.
Jack Kennon
t Kennon is a member ojthe editorialstaffof The Cleveland News 1