The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-18
THE r pIg HABIT.
How II IL Cultivated In Chicago on the
Chrome Plan.

How II IL Cultivated In Chicago on the
Chrome Plan.
Chicago Tribune,
Ever since the idea Of giving a chrome
with a pound Of teat was introduced tue
custom OF giving away plaques, picture
cards, free lunch, ETC., with ~variousaiticIes
has been on the increase. A lady pur-
chases a spool Of cotton in II OF the lead
ing dry goods stores and carries away
printing enough to bill a circus; a man in
vests hye cents in aglass Of beer and de
yastates the free lunch counter; aud any
one who attends the souvenir performance
of "Hazel Kirke' receives either q plaque
or an illuminated programme. SO great
has been the growth OF the gilt custom hat
the patrons OF our street car lines are liable
to be presented with a seat when they pay
their fare.
. The latest additions to this gift enterprise
In trade are 10 be found in the restaurant
line. Some weeks ago the dead walls oil
the city were ablaze with the startling an
nounCement that the proprietor oil IN
Adams street restaurant would give q
piece OF pie with every 10 cent meal" Not
10 be outdone by South Side competition a
West Side restaurant keeper saws oil a
nickel, and advertises that in his place the
pie accompanies every meal Tor which q
dime was given up. Sos,
Thinking that it would be a good idea
for the more aristocratic caterers Tor the
public stomach TO do this same thing, a
reporter OF the Tribune resolved yesterday
TO investigate the plan as 1t is now carried
ont. 80 he called on the Adams street man
for information regarding his gilt enter
prise. ,,,
1T draws a great deal oftrade," he said,
"and I find it q great scheme"
"What sort OF pie Do you give?
"That depends upon the season OF the
wear. Our principle kind now is mince,
though we occasionally throw in apple
and cranberry" a.,
"How many cuts do you get eut OF a pie?"
"About eight or nine. Pie is cheap, you
know, and we can afford 1t by pinching
on u meals"
AS the scribe withdrew he noticed a
number OF dogs and cats sporting about
the place, and he wondered il that was the
reason why mince meat was so plenty al
this season Of the year. His curiosity
did not prove strong enough to induce
him to try the pie, however.
At the West Side pie.bank the same
story was told, though more cuts are CLEAN
ed from a single pie and the pie is much
more slender than on Adams street. At
the tables in the place were seen several
slaves OF the soul.destroying pie.habit
which is allowed to be carried on on our
public thoroughfares, right under the eye
OF the police, under the guise Of a restau
rant. The victim Of the habit is a marked
man. His eyes wear q wild look, probably
the result OF the nightly mardtgras hi
witnesses after enclosing bis piece OF pie,
and bis pants invariably bag at theiknee.
Upon the sleeves Of his coat whiskers may
be seen, and his hands are usually black,
as II with modification. Yet nothing can
be done to break up this all%.destroying
eyil-worse even than the terrible curse OIL
opium.smoking, which has recently claim
ed the attention Of the authorities. Let
the police raid some OF these places OF mi
guilty which flourish under the guise Of
pie.ty, and then turn their attention TO
those dens which entrap the unwary with
alluring sign "A Centennial suit, q fine
lunch, and a good cigar for five cents"