The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-01
A SQUARE MEAL FOR FIFTY CENTS.

Saturday noon sort of slouchy-look-
ing, hunGry-eyeu, cadaVerouS fellow
stepped into u restaurant on Fourth
street and said he wanted cup of coffee
and Il piece of bread and butter. The
waiter told him the place sold nothing
short OF complete dinner, and the price
was fifty cents. SAID lhe stranger.
"Well, you see, | amt real hungry, ana
L only want little coffee and bit of
bread"
Wailer-It makes no difference; we
sell a whole dinner for fifty cents, and
nothing else.
slranyer-You give hull dinner for
fifty cents?
Waiter-Yes, whole dinner: roast
meat, potatoes, succotash, bread, butter,
pie, pudding, coffee and tea.
Stranger-Well, L s'pose you give
man all he wants 10 eal2
Waiter-On, yes: We fill you up for
fifty cents, and give you solid, good,
pam meal.
otranger-Well. I've half q mind to eat
with ye. The TACT is, the Ola! woman give
me halt loaf OF bread and u piece OF cold
cora beef lor bite, and l. eat that up at
Carpenters jes now with glass OF beer.
| thought Fu like Il good cup Ut cUtfee and
IA little bread and butter to kind o wash
the thing down, butye say yr can't gime
that?
Waiter-No, sir. Wen give you, as
I've said, Il sold, square meal for iitty
cents. YDu can eat AS little Or as much
| as you please.
The Strangers eyes opened and looked
| thoughtful Tor Il moment, and then, strlk-
| in. his list on the table, he exclaimed,
s'By gum! l b'ieeye III take it. l amt
ris lit real hungry, but bring on yer roas'
beef and taters, suckilash, tea, coffee,
bread, pie and puddinW Bring ''em on.
BY gum, I'm IN ior u square meal, and
my fiity cents worlhP' The wafer hur-
ried to espond, and the way that stran-
gers knife and FORK played between his
mouth and the plates was q caution to
creased lightning. 1t beat half dozen
pair Of castinets, and 'unded more ike
one OF Billy McAlister's bone solos than
anything else we ever heard. The waiter
stood aghast, and wben he turned up
with the third plate OF rCast beef the pro-
prietor,. pale as marble from Vermont
quarry, called him behind The bar.
| "Fur Cots sake. who is that fellOWY ~
| said he; 'he eats yictuals as fast as u
threshimg-machine swallows straw"
The strangers plates were beginning to
snow bottom again, and his eyes we're
running up and down the room for the
waiter. lie did not stop in his eating
but simply turned his back and let fly
/ against the wall with his heels.
"Gi' me s'more roast beef and taters,'
1 he shouted.
i The landlord raised his hands in hor
rOr..
s.Great heayene, James, he'll clean Il.
out" said he, as the waiter spfanS lol
= the kitchen.
! "Ain't ye got morn wun kind Of piep
inOulred the stranger.
"Oh, yes" said The waiter.
"Weil, then, bring 1T on, and giv's sun
o. that pud'n. too. Jemimy,' u was on
Iy hungry, how I'd clean We outI Bring
me two cups of coffee and cup of tea
LOO, amt only iis beginning to eat"
, "'rhe landlord listened with dismay
and stopping The waiter, as he entered
the Kitchen tor the fifteenth time, Walked
solemnly up to the stranger. and said:
.ssee here, we ain't got enough in th
house to feed you. just go ON now,
will call it all square. You needMt pa.
q cent for what you've had"
The stranger became indignant, AM
I declined, saying that his appetite wa
= lust coming, and winding up with very
very emphatic,
. changed il will"
I A bright thought struck the landlor
: as he walked OF III mental agony. Has
u tening to the bar, ne ]efkeu open the III
pulled out hall dollar, and, rushing u
. TO tle stranger, placed it in his hand.
4 "Here, here" said he, stake this an
a 90 right up to the Holly Tree Inn, an
', clean 'em out Go on. They'll feed yo
j till you bust lor fifty CENTS"
"Well," said the stranger, as he gradl
tally arose and stretched himself, AZ th
Same time putting the scrip into his YES
8 pocket, Il don't mind if do take it.
8 ain't very hungry anyhow. only wan
9 ed cup of coffee and piece of brea
5 and butter when l come in, but Pm j
: as we'll as satisfied. guess Pll buy IL
It old mare some oats, and wait until g
! hum to finish up" and he'lelt.