120 / 184
B.
AMENDMENTS
DRINKS FROM OTHER CLIMES
r.
MOSTLY WITH FRENCH SPIRIT
F
OR reasons earlier elaborated, the art of invention, as
applied to cocktails, suffered in this country a sort of
hiatus during the so-called Dry Era. Americans who trav–
eled abroad became aware that determined efforts were
being made by sympathetic foreigners to keep the Amer–
ican School of Drinking alive-with amendments. All over
Europe, in particular, visitors from this side were assured
that cocktails answering to all the old familiar names
would come when called, if asked for in the proper places.
Many kinds were called for, but after some sampling, few
varieties were chosen again.
So far as I have been able to ascertain, Europe, during
the Dark Interim, produced just one new cocktail that
Americans took to and adopted. I first came across it in
Rome. My host there, Commendatore Giulio Gelardi,
General
Man~ger
of the Hotel Excelsior, did not, how–
ever, claim the Side-Car for Italy, and Mussolini himself
was silent on the subject. Americans who make their homes
abroad and so have ·oeen able to watch the March of
In–
vention over there, trace its origin to the Ritz Bar, in Paris.
The correct formula:
120