New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-12
NETWORK IN SLICES.
Slice w. SoTHER VisrT TO rHk
EATIvG-HoUsEs.

/
sliced up the Eating. Houses. As If we were not at
liberty TO make free with an old friend Why we
have lived, man and boy, something quarter Of
a century at the downtown Eating Houses-being in
the habit Of breakfasting at Lovejoys, dining at
Browns, and taking tea and biscuit at Sweeneys
But picture is picture and in order to give the
reader or spectator correct idea Of the subject under
treatment it necessary dash in the light and shade
with free hand. Exact portrsiture Is as common
place as-as-the National Academy while an artistic
representation relieves the mind Of the material lumber
which Expresses it, and presents nothing but the alb
stract picture to the eye. Whether we possess the
faculty OF painting such picture not does not de-
pend on the Eating houses-they rs economical and
as indispensable ever.
And now, since at the confessional we are
willing to admit that the Eating Houses immensely
valuable. New.York could no more exist without her
Eating Houses than you reader, could get along with
out your stomach. In the Winter, when the days
as short as pecrus and one has scarcely time TO get
to bis counting house before it lie time to shut up what
business could be transacted if the fifty thousand peo
pie who do business downtown were obliged 70 90
home for their dinners The progress OF trade and
population has driven the dwelling houses all far up
town that if it were not for the Eating Houses one
meal day would be all that business man would
have any right to expect Now, he carries on till
favorable lull occurs-an eddy in the vast o0gatcur
rent that is bearing him to fortune-snd slipping
quietly out to Browns or the Adermans, rereshes the
inward man. and is back again in minutes ready 70
serve a customer or make out a bill. Consider that
this is done by at least fifty thousand every day in New
York and you will be able TO begin to calculate the i'm
amount of time saved to the mercantile and bust
ness community by the Eating Houses.
If the Eating Houses useful in Winter they be-
come absolutely indispensable in Summer The thrifty
merchant or tradesmsn sends his wife and children to
board in cool and sequestered place in the vicinity
Of the City land surely nothing compare with the
facilities of NewYork in this respect) and where ne
can join them every evening after the business OF the
day lie But all through the hot and glazing day
he must be in town working, working, working What
would he do without the Eating Houses Why, literally,
he must storve And then, what would become of his
wife and children Horrible thought
Indeed upon taking cool and calm view OF the mat.
ter we are inclined TO believe that, notwithstanding
their stesming and thin soups ia TO the Eating
Houses that New-York is in great indebted
for that continuous rush of commercial activity around
her great business ceners which so strikingly dsin
cuisines her from all other cities Her geographical pc
ston doubtless contributes alec to this but without
the Eating Houses situated right in the heart of trade
and providing abundant and wholesome meals at cost
absolutely nothing to business man, compared with
the value of ten minutes time in the middle of the day,
neither the geographical position the immense
pressure of trade would produce that inexhaustibe
glow of excitement that ceaseless whir Of activity,
which keeps the wine of life continually etervescing
and sending of sparks and scinunations which Undue
the very atmosphere with vital and intoxicating
sence-the pungent perfume Of gold.
In such extensive establishments as the New.York
Eating Houses conducted with such incredible celebrity.
and dining hungry men by the regiment some noise
and confusion absolutely indispensable just think
of 1.-TWO three thousand people going up and down
the same stairs and dining at the tables within
three hours Such scene cannot be imagined by any
but New. Yorker. Nowhere else either in Europe
America does anything like II exist 1t is the culufina
tion the contamination, the concentration Of American
ism with all its activity, perseverance, energy and
practically in their ghest state Of Development In
this view the Eating Houses of NewYork rise to tho
dignity Of national institution and well worth the
most observant analysis.
As branch of business too, the Eating Houses
are far from being unworthy of attention. We could
point to more than splendid fortune than
magnificent residence above Blocker, graced with
accomplished of the Upper Ten, which have arisen
from the honest earnings of the Eating House. and
whose founder began life as the humble commissary
Of cakes and coffee the mercantile and business
of New York And so habituated have some of these
men become to active employment that their well
loaded counter surrounded with happy and hungry
toners has become a necessary excitement so that
they may be any day from twelve to three o'clock
arrayed in spotess white apron. and knife and fork in
hand serving out roast beef plum pudding and lobster
salad seasoned with certain standing jokes which
grow better every year their less wealthy and less
aristocratic customers-while their wives and daugh
ters loungng gracefully velvet ottomans beneath
dsmssk curtains in the aristocratic palace uptown.
gravely discuss the delicate questions whose decision
is to give laws TO the world of Wealth and Fashion
This picture although presents points for the
of the satirt is yet profitable and peasurabe sub
ect Of contempaton-as it shows that in this
try any man in any honest calling and possessing tact
industry and perseverance establish himself and
family in any social position for which their
faculties may have endowed them-that beauty and
worth and genius no matter what may be the circunl.
of their BIRTH how they may be sneered at
by superciious parvenus cannot be withheld save by
themselves from assuming that rank and exertng that
influence to which they are entitled
Therefore, if we have INDUCED in little innocent
fun while depicting OF the more striking scenes
and peculiarites Of the NewYork Eating House,
the last to deny their usefulness their absolute neces
sty as one Of the in that great
and astounding whole. New York As 1t ls.
Under the head of Eating Houses 1t is also properto
mention the Ice Cream Saloons of Broadway and the
Confectionery shops in the Bowery and other portions
OF the metropolis. The Broadway establishments are
generally fitted up in style of exaggerated hnery
which has grand effect from the street. but is little
too glaring and crushing when you are within At
night when the gsudy curtains silver paper and gded
mirrors are highly illuminated by gashsht the scene
rises almost TO splendOr itseior at any rate to that
which people willing to accept for it and new
the difference. In the sultry Summer evenings
every Of these fashionable lce-Cream Saloons lie
crowded with thronss Of welldressed men and women
belonging for the most part to the great middle classes
while the establishments in the Bowery crammed TO
the very threshold with the bhoys and their buxon and
rosy sweethear,s their veins leapng with the FIRE Of
health and youth and their round cheeks glowing with
happiness.
But in the day time. save now and then some dainty
male who happens be in love and thinks it
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