New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20
CHEAP RESTAURANTS AND TEMPERANCE.


THE GREAT WESTERN COOKING DEPoTs IN GLAs-
Gow-A GOOD MEAL FOR FoURPENCB AND CUP
OF TEA FOR A PENNY-PossIBILITY OF CHEAP
RESTAURANTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR The article upon this subject in your
Wednesdays paper, by Miss Kate Field, have read
with great interest, being like all women OF this day
strong advocate for the suppression Of ntemperance
by any and all proper methods.
happened to be in Glasgow about a year ago, and
had the opportunity TO test by experiment the excellent
quality Of food supplied by the Great Western Cooking
Depots and was 50 Impressed with this scheme Of pro-
vdng well and cheaply for the wants OF large eommu-
mites that ferventy hoped should soon adopt It in
New-York In company with friend visited two OF
Mr. Corbets depots In the largest and most central
OF establishments everything Indicated good man.
agement; the food OF superior quality and well
cooked. My friend and had sufficient and agreeable
meal consisting OF small slice OF roast beef delicious
bread and butter preserves and cup OF coffee served
on the whest OF table linen by the ceanest OF maids
for the modest sum OF four pence each. Having
called at an hour when there few
toners in the dining hail. and being interested In see
ing the class Of patrons We went again the next day
at noon In the lower hall. saw coming and going
crowds OF representing various occupations and Of
all agesyoung men, clerks in stores Tor shops as they
say on the other sde), mechanics and dsyaborers in
large upper hall seated mostly young women from
shops and factories. They in like Americans. il
eating were part OF their business but they had rev.
erentia air as they bowed their heads on their hands
for moment Of silent prayer before paraking OF the
frugal meal We watched what they ate, as the
M ,iority took the simplest fare, cup Of tea with bis
cri, or 'ice Of bread. large numEer brought little
packaoes tie up in brown paper, which, when opened
REVEALED a sand vich-made Of the beautiful white cot
uha ,bo
eood hostess asks W. will take the or crumb"
spread with the famous Scotch marmalade. Such
economists called merely for cp OF tea and paid their
penny The wonderful economy of ,ese people, In con-
trast with spendthrit Americans forcsd 10 inquiry
TO my mind. Could we make such restaurant system
payi Miss Field partly answers the question In q
few words" first. large number OF customers and
the preparation Of few simple Dishes and Others
that Mr. Corbett, who resides London tried
the experiment IN that great city failed In
to my query 70 the cause OF its failure a gem
tlemGa gave this rather enigmatical answer: 1.-THE
sootsmans bill OF fare Is potatoes and beef while
the Englishman must have roast beef and potatoes"
We can all understand by this that II demand should
be made for expensive articles of food the price will DO
proportionally increased, and the high rents, high
wages, &c, would OF course make difficulties which
not 30 papable IN Glasgow; but nothing is nsupera-
bio objection TO energetic people Besides II the work
be undertaken by churches aud benevolent societies the
pecunary PROFITS will be much object OF consid
GRAFTON.
You VIII ask What has all this to do with tempsranoas