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OLD WALDORF-ASTORIA BAR BOOK
Certainly whatever may have been lacking in the results
of their missionary endeavors up to the Spanish-American
War was made up in
1898,
just before and after Dewey's
capture of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and during the
Boxer Rebellion a few years later. Whatever the
oft~
encountered sign "American Bar" may have lacked in
authentic backing when one encountered it in Europe, out
in what were known as the Treaty Ports of China, in Yoko–
hama and such other places in the Orient as our sailors,
marines and soldiers came to know, one could find his
Martini or any other cocktail that was in vogue back in
the States.
Yet, while the cocktail is an American invention, its
derivation and first date of application are hazed by anec–
dote and fancy. Take, for example, a story once heard in
the Orient.
"A cocktail?" the Mandarin repeated, eying the drink
doubtfully.
"Yes," replied the Standard Oil man, his host in Hong
Kong.
"But why the name?"
The other shook his head. "Drink it and you will find
the rooster feathers growing on you."
The Mandarin drank, perplexed. Having drunk, how–
ever, his curiosity over the name left him. All he wanted
was another of the same. Soon afterward began in the
Far East a demand for bottled Martinis and Manhattans,
which did more to Americanize the Chinese than any
other influence.
J'here was once a day when women did not drink
cocktails. They even hesitated to pronounce the name.
Over here we spoke of "roosters." Of course everybody