Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-03-22
a GOurman6's Free Dinner.

a gOOu SCOTy Is tolu OF q notable gas
Tonomic 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 8
meal than any other man alive. an ac
quaintance remarked that his was a Door
talent any way, as it would never be the
means of making or saving him dollar.
Gottlieb retahated 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 I'M
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 delieacies.
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 UirGnt, 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 [ will I'M
dertake that the dinner shall be a sue
cess" ''All right, dinner at six, sharp,
GOttlieb, as he and his friends were
leaving. 30, 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,
''Never fear" said mine host, 81 don't
starve my guests" ''Wen, all right,
bI1t IF Won dCntt Criyo ne
birds and terrapin to go round, I'll be
hanged if l pay the bill" IF don't
won't ask you for a cent" said
mine host, falling headlong into the
skillfully laid trap. .s..
At six, to the minute, Gottlieb and his
party were on hand. The soup made it's
appearance. 1t was apuree of 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 Colt
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. l never
let my guests take anything that 1 do not.
| first taste to see that it is perfect of its
kind. Now bring their portion; come,
| quick" The waiter HE'D 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 sulficiency
for four hearty men?" 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 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 i'm
silence.
The waiter, too dumbfounded to speak,
looked on at the performance with min
gled establishment and dismay. "Where,-
again, is the portion of my friendsP"
asked Scherer, as he washed down the.
| last remnant of the sixteenth smelt-
with q 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"
said Gottlieb; @'ths 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 dsconsolate with empty
| plates before them. lyon have disap-
! pointed me much, sir,' said Gottlieby
''we are now in our third course, and I,
| even l, 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 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 1 was not.
to be charged one cent. l give your own
words. Bring in the remainder of the
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-
with conscious pride, "that l am Gott-
! lieb Scherer, of Philadelphia, and by the
name of George Washington, | swear
! that am the greatest eater in the United
! States" The restauranteur was 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 PltiLGdekphtG Press.
A Tough Story.