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OLD WALDORF-ASTORIA BAR BOOK
of the century, when the expression became current in
magazines artd newspapers, and when lots of Americans
were taking their first steps in French. What they said
when they meant to order such a cocktail is another matter.
Why, you can date many American historical, society,
sporting, police and other events by those cocktails when
you know the names. There was the Third Degree, in–
vented when everybody in New York was interested in the
way tough cops were extracting information from accused
persons. Probably it left its imbiber in a state similar to
that of the victim of a police inquisition. Added to one–
eighth French Vermouth, it consisted of seven-eighths
Plymouth Gin, with several dashes of Absinthe. The Good
Times cocktail was reminiscent of the socially important
coach that once ran from the Waldorf doorway to the
Woodmansten Inn. The Jitney complimented an inven–
tion of a Detroit gentleman which was found adaptable
to take the place of trolley cars when drivers and con–
ductors went on strike. It may be particularly interesting
to that inventor to learn that it was composed of one-half
Gin, one-fourth Lemon, one-fourth Orange Juice-and a
little Sugar. Then there was the Marconi Wireless, which
first "materialized" at the Bar of the Old Waldorf when
the ancestor of what is now called the "radio" began to
raise its ghostly voice; and the Prince Henry, concocted
to celebrate the arrival of the once-distinguished Kaiser's
apostolic brother, who was dined and wined prodigiously
in the old hotel's Grand Ballroom, just above the Bar–
room.
Cocktails by the names of Futurity, Suburban, and so
on, celebrated the triumphs of James
R.
Keene and his
racing cohorts and other famous stable-owners on near-by