Show h Poem Written to boost Boost Prohibition No Says Author Grown Wroth Intended to Ease Path to Free Drinks L I I The Face on the Barroom Floor the pathetic recitation that thrilled the hearts of another generation generation gener gener- was written as an all admonition to rough and ready barten bartenders ers to go goeasy goeasy o easy with the r ragged stranger and not as a tirade against rum The Theauthor Theauthor Theauthor author Hugh Antoine dArcy d'Arcy supplied supplied sup sup- plied this Information at a party celebrating his eightieth birth birth- d day Y He nearly choked when it was was pointed out that tho the recitation had been used by the prohibition crusaders ers for years and was popularly believed believed believed be- be be be- to have haTe been written as argument argument argument ment against rumI rumI rumI rum I hope It never helped prohibition prohibition prohibition tion he snapped If I thought It had I would jump Into the Hudson I The original title was The Face Upon the Floor he said SaI and the barroom part of ot it had been Inserted Insert Insert- ed without authority The famous lines begin a balmy summer sari ancl saria ancla a goodly crowd was ther them I Which well-nigh well filled Joes Joe's barroom barroom bar bar- barI I room on the corner of the square I Then through the door came a vagabond who begged for tor for fora a drink f Refused by the bar bartender ender he ne was treated by customers to whom tha broken artist told his story Calling for chalk he drew the fa face e of o a beautiful beautiful beau leau woman yoman upon upon the noor Dr and fell tell 1 across rr oss it dead said he wrote the recitation recitation reci reci- Mr l d. d dArcy d'Arcy tation tallon after a similar incident in Joe Smiths Smith's barroom on Fourth avenue New York City much frequented fre fre- frequented years ears isby is- is b by members member of th the theatrical profession The bart bartender bartend bartend- nd- nd er was unnecessarily tough with the I ragged stranger at that that Vine time Mr tr d' d dArcy d'Arcy thought end and the the Fare Far on the was the result an h to all bartenders hi f lo to 0 be lenient with own and |