Dining in Chicago

[Dark Saint Alaick]

AN OLD AMERICAN CUSTOM



Comes now an authority on cocktails who deposes and says that cocktail imbibing, that great American indoor sport, is of Mexican origin. Discarding the domestic rooster theory, Harry Craddock, of the Savoy Hotel, London (known as the King of the Cocktail Shakers), offers as proof of his contention the story of King Axolotl VIII of Mexico and the wonderful potion.
Harry says that over a hundred years ago the old king, tired of border skirmishes between his troops and the American army, wanted to make peace before he kicked the bucket. So he sent an invitation to the American general (whose name Harry apparently doesn't know) to come and talk over peace terms at the king's palace. A banquet was spread, but before the guests started eating the tortillas and hot tamales, a beautiful woman appeared bearing a gold cup which contained a special potion brewed by her own hands.