The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-04-25
NUMBER 80.
A Gourmand's Free Dinner.

A Gourmand's Free Dinner.
A good story is told Of a notable gas
tronomic performance in a. New York
hotel. One day when Gottlieb Scherer,
q noted gourmand. of this city, was
boasting Of his ability to eat more at q
meal than any other man alive, an ac-
quaintance remarked that hiswas 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. Gottlieb's
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 bon Ui1dz7t, and
assured his bulky customer that nothing
should be wanting on his part to make
the dinner success.
'.You gentlemen find the appetite"
said the restauranteur, land viii un-
dertake that the dinner shall be sue
cess" stAn right, dinner at six, sharp,
Gottlieb, as he and his friends were
leaving. so, by the by, landlord" he
added, ssmy 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, 81 don't
starve my guests. - ssWen, all right,
but if you don't give Us a suficiency of
birds and terrapin to go round, Pn be
hanged if pay the bill.'' ssH don't
won't ask you for cent, said
mine host, falling headlong into the
skillfully laid trap. s.-;, = ;,s
At six. to the minute. Gottlieb and his
party were on hand. The soup made its
appearance. Itwas apuree of d peculiar
kind, and, like the rest of the dinner, had
been specially prepared. The tureen
contained about three pints- Bring me
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 it and,
to the horror of the waiter, leisurely
swallowed all of it. Then he drew
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 / 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. ssWhat, you call this q suffciency
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 gravely shovelled the lot on to his
| plate and proceeded to devour 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 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"
said Gottlieb; s'this is disgraceful; but
stay, before that bring the next course"
1t 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. s'You have disap-
| pointed me much, SIR" said Gottlieb;
1--WE are now in our third course, and 1,
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"
| One by one the guests had arisen from
their seats, and a 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 was not
to be charged one cent. give your own
words. Bring in the remainder of the
menu. 1 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
with conscious pride, ssthat / am Gott-
lieb Scherer, of Philadelphia, and by the
name of George Washington, j swear
that am the greatest eater in the United
States" The restauranteur was a wise
/ man; he acknowledged that he made no
claim on Gottlieb for payment, and or
dered the waiter to. serve the remainder
of the dinner Philadelphia Press.