The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-03-22
A Gourmand's Free Dinner.

A good story is told of notable gas
tronomic performance in New York
hotel. One day when Gottlieb Scherer.
q noted gourmand of this city, was
boasting Of his ability to eat more at a
meal than any other man alive, an ae-
quaintance remarked that his was a poor
talent any way, as it would never be the
means of making or saving him dollar.
Gottlieb retaliated by offering to make
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 un-
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 we'll
known uptown restaurant. Gottliebs-
imposing appearance at once captured
the worthy caterer, and when the
stranger ordered 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 a bon Utrd''t, and
assured his bulky customer that nothing
should be wanting on his part to make
| the dinner success. sgsigeR
| 1Ou RSuGieu1eu uuu buc dppcti0os
said the restauranteur, ssand [ will un-
dertake that the dinner shall be sue
cess" ..All right, dinner at six, sharp,
Gottlieb, as he and his friends were
leaving. 30, by the by. landlord" he
added, .smy friends are by no means
| gluttons, but don't forget to put enough
On the table for four hungry men,"
"Never fear" said mine host, .I don't
starve my guests" ..Well, all right.
but if you don't give us sufficiency of
birds and terrapin to go round, III be
hanged if I pay the BILL" '.If don't
1 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. Hwas apuree of a peculiar
kind, and, like therest of the dinner, had
been specially prepared. The tureen
contained about three pints. bring me
two-quart BASIN" WAITER, said; Gott-
lieb. When the astonished man put the
bowl before him, Scherer emptied the
contents of the soup tureen into it 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 friends? My
portion was good, very good. I never
let my guests take anything that I 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 Gottlieb's party he told
them that every drop of the soup was
gone. "What, you call this a sufficieney
for four hearty menP' said Scherer.
"Bah! But come, bring on the fish"
Smelts, 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 temptingly arranged upon the dish
as the knight of the napkin set it down
in front of the founder of the feast. Gott-
lieb grayely shovelled the lot on to his
plate and proceeded to deyour them in
silence.
The waiter, too dumbfounded to speak,
looked on at the performance with min
gled astonishment and dismay. "Where,
again, is the portion of my friendsp"
asked Scherer, as he washed down the
last remnant of the sixteenth smelt
with liberal ibation of dry sherry.
, again he returned with the same
story, that the supply of smelts was ex-
hausted. "Bring the landlord at once "
said Gottleb; s.this is disgraceful; but
. stay, before that bring the next course. T"
Itcame, and was followed little later
by mine host with an anxious look upon
, bis 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 Gottlieb;
! 1--WE are now in our third course, and /,
even /, who have eaten everything the
| waiter has put upon the table, am not
satisfied, while my friends, as yet, have
, not broken their fast" m+
} One by one the guests had arisen from
their seats, and ring two deep was
formed round the table at which the
) Philadelphians, 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 go around WIS NOT
to be charged one cent. 1 give your own
? words. Bring in the remainder of the
3 menu. I can and will eat it until the
/ last morsel. Know, gentlemen" said
. the speaker, bowling with dignity to the
little crowd, as his vast chest swelled
3 with conscious pride, s'that am Gott
) lieb Scherer, of Philadelphia, and by the
r name of George Washington, sweal
a that am the greatest eaterin the United
: States" The restauranteur was wist
' man; he acknowledged that he made ne
4 claim on Gottlieb for payment, and or
, dered the waiter to serve the remainder
: of the dinner. Philadelphia Press.