The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-03-24
A Commands Free Dinner.


A good story is told of a notable gas
tronomic performance in a New York
hotel. One day when Gottlieb Scherer,
noted gourmand of this city, was
Boosting of his ability to eat more at
meal than any other man alive, an ac-
quaintance remarked that his was a poor
talent any way. rs it would never be the
means of making or saving hima dollar.
Gottleb retaliated by offering to make
a bet that his ability in the eating line
would enable him TO dine himself and
three friends sumptuously and free of
expense at any hotel where he was UNI
known. The bet was accepted, and
| Gottlieb and his friends went on to New
York to decide the wager. On reaching
Gotham the party proceeded to a we'll
| known uptown restaurant. Gottlieb's
imposing appearance at once captured
the worthy caterer, and when the
stranger ordered a dinner of four courses,
comprising game and other delicacies,
only obtainable at that season of the
year with great difficulty and at con-
siderable expense, he. thought that he
was in the presence of bon cicdnt, and
assured his bulky customer that nothing
should be wanting on his part to make
the dinner n success.
"You gentlemen find the appetite"
said the restauranteur, land will un-
dertake that the dinner shall be n sue
cess" "All right, dinner at six, sharp,
Gottlieb, as he aud his friends were
leaving. 80, by the by, landlord, he
added, my friends are by no means
gluttons, but don't forget to put enough
on the table for four hungry men,"
"Neyer fear" said mine host, Il don't
starve my guests, .'Well. all right,
but If you don't give us suniciency of
birds and terrapin to go round, IN be
hanged II pay the bill" IF don't
l won't ask you for cent said
mine host, falling headlong into the
skillfully laid trap.
AT six, to the minute, Gottlieb and his
party were on hand. The soup made its
appearance. twas apuree of a peculiar
kind, and, like the rest of the dinner, had
been specially prepared The tureea
contained about three pints. bring me
a two.quart basin,' WAITER said Gott-
ieb. When the astonished man put the
bowl before him, Scherer emptied the
contents of the soup tureen into ii and,
to the horror of the waiter, leisurely
swallowed all Of it. Then he drew a
deep breath and inquired Of the waiter:
Where is the soup of my friendsp My
portion was good, very good. l never
let my guests take anything that do not
first taste to see that it is perfect OF its
kind. Now bring their portion; come,
quick" The waiter hied him to the
cook whom he found discussing, with
evident gusto, the teaspoonful or so that
had remained in the bottom of the pot
Returning to Gottleb's party he told
them that every drop of the soup was
gone. What. you call this a sufliciency
for four hearty menp" said Scherer.
.Bah' But come, bring on the fish
Smells. boned and stuffed with tiny crabs
previously boiled in champagne, was the
next epicurean dish included in the
MENU Sixteen fish, four for each guest,
lay tcmptingly arranged upon the dish
as the knight of the napkin set it down
in front of the founder of the feast. Gott-
lieb gravely shovelled the lot on to his
plate and proceeded to devour them in
The waiter, too dumbfounded to speak,
looked on ut the performance with min
gled astonishment and dismay. "Where,
again, is the portion Of my friends"'
asked Scherer as he washed down the
last remnant of the sixteenth smelt
with a liberal libation of dry sherry.
Again the waiter went to the cook and
again he returned with the same
!. story, that the supply of smelts was ex-
hausted. Bring the landlord at once, y
said Gottlieb; "this is disgraceful; but
stay, before that bring the next course. p"
II came, and was followed a little later
by mine host with an anxious look upon
his face. His strange customer was just
swallowing the last mouthful and his
friends sat disconsolate with empty
plates before them. "You have disap
pointed me much, SIR" said Gottleb;
1--WE are now in our third course, and /,
even /, who have eaten everything the
waiter has pat upon the table, am not
satisfied, while my friends, as yet, have
not broken their fast"
One by one the guests had arisen from
their seats, and ring two deep was
formed round the table at which the
Philadelphans, or at least one of the
party, was dining. .'You remember the
terms on which you have served this
dinner" Gottlieb continued; "if there
was not enough to 90 around | was moi
to be charged one cent. Igive your owr
words. Bring in the remainder of thu
menu I can and will eat it until thu
last morsel. Know, gentlemen" sale
, the speaker, bowling with dignity to thu
little crowd, as his vast chest swellet
with conscious pride, 'that am Colt
, lieb Scherer, of Philadelphia, and by thu
. name of George Washington, swea
. that am the greatest eater in the United
States" The restauranteur was a wis
man; he acknowledged that he made NJ
claim on Gottleb for payment, and or
dered the waiter to serve the remainde
of the dinner. Philadelph,a Press.
A Tough Story.