Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10
FREE LUNCH.
Mysteries of the Modern Art Of
''H0W Not to Dine"
Loafers' Breakfast and Some Persons Din
nes-CapaeiOus Maws of Rapacious
Visitots-Nne Plates Of Soup
and a Ten Dollar Fine.
A MAN WHO HAD IT DOWN FINE
Philadelphia Press.


nations of Europe do not produce saloon
keepers whose generous instincts lead
them to think of the possibility OF their
customers being hungry. But in
America, sir, We give things away, we
do, we are endowed with principles of
humanity, we are, and don't you for
get it."
The speaker was thin-looking man,
with a clustering air and exceptionally
shabby-trousers. He filled his glass
almost up to the brim with whiskey,
for which he rendered ten cents to the
indignant bartender of an uptown sa-
loon in which he delivered the above
sentiments. After his drink he had
attacked plate of cold beefand cleared
it, and it was while elevating the final
pickle on his fork that he became aware
of the curious grZe of bystander who
was watching his movements.
II trust, sir" he continued, that my
remarks have been but the echo OF
your own feelings" :,
Now see here, Judge" interrupted
the bartender, "you will have to take
YOUR custom somewhere else. am not
going to be such id fool as to give
You Your dinner every day or a drink
like that you have just took for ten cents.
Now drop those crackers, dye hear!
Going to put them in your pocket, were
YOU? Come, clear out of this! Now
clear, and as the Judge 'clearedO don't
Lot ~, a 500 INN often aorain.N
"You did not like it?' said the by
stander to the bartender.
Like it." replied the bartender to
the bystander, "likeit! Well, should
say not"
Judging from the remarks of several
saloon keepersand his own observations,
a reporter who spent the day in hunt
ing free-lunches, discovered that there
were very large number of persons
who wholly or partially subsist on the
counter food provided gratis by keepers
of taverps. 4 few nickles daily to pay
for drinks is oil that is required. Who
the saloon keeper was who first invent
ed free lunches, when and where he
lived and how he died, history does not
relate. 1t is presumed it was originally
some calculating publican's ingenious
temptation for attracting custom to his
establishment. Doubtless his lunch
ONLY Consisted OF bread and cheese I'M
til he was foiled by rival who 80
provided bread and cheese, but with the
addition of mustard and pickles. Then
somebody else gave away boiled ham
or fish-balls, and so on-anything likely
to increase trade-until finally free
lunches became an institution-some-
thing expected as matter of course by
the imbibing public. In every drinking
establishment there is now a sort of
double tTeen with pewter lids, which,
on being raised, disclose crackers and
cheese; but so simple lunch, if not
regarded with disdain, is certainly not
looked upon as recommendation to
the house SaloOn-keeperS are very
well aware of that fact, especially in
poorer neighborhoods of the city, for
big placards announcing Grand lunch"
or "Hot lunch," or Bean soup
lunch,n meet the eye at least dozen
times in half an hours ramble.
Nor do refreshment houses of a high
standard of respectih Utility disdain to offer
q Wr,e---.i.ri Dy way or iadno~--~..v ur
Courtesy to their customers. One of the
finest restaurants in Chestnut street
gives delicious fried oyster or a small
chicken croquet with every drink serv-
ed, and in several places in the vicinity
of the exchanges and in the business
offices a sidebOard is spread during the
mid day hours with several cold dishes,
while hot soup is served gratis on APP
plication.
Starting at o'clock one morning the
reporter confined his wanderings to the
area of the city from Broad to Front and
from Spruce to Vine. Ten o'clock APP
peared to be the earliest hour at which
lunch was announced in the score or
more gin mills OH Race and Vine street,
and bean or vegetable soup or mutton
stew the general menu.
II suppose this is breakfast for
good many" remarked the reporter toa
bar. tender as he ate some soup.
YES, YOU bet it IS Have some
mo, thank you; it is too early to be
hungry"
rs it? Well, it's about the hour
with most of 'em about here. They
either go to bed late and
get up late and or else go to bed early
and get up early, take o'clock break
fast and come for plate of soup to keep
their mouths quiet till dinner time.
Still, it's breakfast with most of 'em
anyhow, and mixes all right with the
hummer"
Trying two places at hazard, the re.
porter managed to swallow plate Of
Vegetable soup at one and bean soup at
the other, bread being literally provid-
ed in each instance. Cost, two glasses
of beer or ten cents. 4 casual inspec-
ton of three saloons on Arch street, one
on Market street and one on Cherry
street revealed lunches of clam chowder
oyster soup, pork and beans, and BACON
and sauer kraut, all in full blast before
ii o'clock. Shortly after that hour the
reporter entered German restaurant
near Eighth and Chestnut streets, and
found that a glass of beer entitled him to
a small plate of corn beef, potato salad,
bread and butter. Prosperous mer-
chants, well-to-do brokers and opulent
lawyers were eating heartily, and ask
ing for second portions without hesita-
ton, but few took more than one drink.
docs it pay?" the proprietor was
asked.
eyes, 1t pays all right. Iney are
with few exceptions, regular cust) mers.
That thin young man over there is not
very profitable; he comes every day at
this hour and eats all he can get. Still
one pays for the other"
The thin young man was decent
dressed, and looked like salesman 10
one of the neighboring stores killing his
dinner hour. The reporter watched
his movements. He ordered one glass
of beer and ate one helping Of meat, two
of potato salad and six or eight pieces OF
bread and cheese. Then he left and
walked rapidly round the corner to
well known saloon on Seventh street.
Here regular collation. was in readi-
ness. He ate hot soup, hot stew. canned
lobster, picked salmon, canned beef,
sturgeon, sausage, pickles, salad, pie,
three pieces of bread and an apple. The
portions were not large, but if placed
together would have a good platefui;
vet his hunger was not satisfied. Hav-
Ing invested five cents in glass OF beer
he crossed the road and entered another
saloon, where he helped himself twice
to SOUP and ate fish-ball besides. This
time he bought q five-cent cigar: In
o. 4 r.. ~ <ak.