Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  153 / 184 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 153 / 184 Next Page
Page Background

HISTORICAL

153

hall had been converted into a bus station, and there one

bought tickets for Montclair, the Oranges, and other points

in New Jersey, or else for New Haven and other way sta–

tions to Boston.

Some of the decorations of the temple remained. For

example, two great Egyptian-like bronze figures still stood

one on either side of the private entrance to the Jade Room,

which did not look like a door at all until you found the

handle-not easy for one who had lingered over his liquor.

Then there was still one picture, "The Ballet Dancer,"

which in that long-past age referred to probably inspired

more toasts than any

ot~er

single painting in the world;

which turned more men i11 the direction of art-connoisseur–

ing than any other example of high art known, and whose

legs and lingerie caused far more comment and centered

more scrutiny than all the cigarette pictures of stage fa–

vorites in tights that used to help sell "coffin nails,'' as

they were termed, during the days when "The Ballet

Dancer's" reign was being established. On the opposite

wall hung a big copy of Paolo Veronese's "Wedding at

Cana, in Galilee,'' for contemplation by those whom liquor

put or left in an attitude proper for the contemplation of re–

ligious subjects. High above, the paneling still hung some

of the elks' heads with which the late George C. Boldt,

long the old hotel's proprietor, had adorned the place.

But when that laboratory of Bacchic

end~avor

was in its

heyday, pilgrims came from far and wide-from all cor–

ners of the globe. They flocked about the rectangular Bar

counter and drank deeply of what was good stuff, if not

wisdom. As soon as the first bartender appeared in the

morning, before even arranging the multitude of glasses

of various sizes and shapes on the high stand that took up