Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-13
LADIES AT LUNCH.
FastEdiOus When with Gentlemen Who
Pay the Bills, but Economical When
Chicago Meas.

Chicago Meas.
Chow would a ladies' coffee house or
lunch parlOr payw repeated prominent
Madison street restaurateur. sit wouldn't
pay at all. Pve been in the lunch bust
ness twenty-SiX years, and in that time /
have learned that women are no good as
customers. If they come In as a guest of
a gentleman, that is a different thing.
There's nothing in the bill too good for
them, and IN trying to please their fastidi-
Gus taste, oysters, game, shellfish, salads,
sWeet-breads, the choicest vegetables and
deserts, and not unfrequently high wines
are sacrificed. They don't have to pay for
the outlay, and don't care for the eX-
pense. But let that same merciless
epicurean come in the next dav by her.
sell for lunch, and you would wonder
how she managed to manipulate her APP
petite so as to find sufficiency in a lucent
meal.
That's just the very point. They have
good appetites and keen appreciation for
good things, but they have not the money
to satisfy the one or purchase the other.
The dinner of the average woman con-
sists of small steak, plate of stewed
oysters or brOiled fish, or any other fish
that can be had for % cents. Women
who are very comfortably situated come in
here as often as once a week, but very sell
dinner. After a shopping expedition they
are tired, Oiten complain ola headache, and
cup of tea with dish of crackers or
some dry toast, will last them till they get
home. The best paying customers of this
class are middle-aged ladies, who have
learned how to live. Two or three of
week, and Invariably before or after the
noon rush. They call for oysters. and
while waiting to have them cooked Tegalo
themselves with a quart of ale or porter.
No; as a rule respectable women do not
order wine; too dear; but think we have
about seventy regular customers who Or
der beer or ale to give tone to their stom-
ach.
Actresses are good-paying lunchers,
but much more eXacting than actors or
other men. There is no palming off fiat
coffee or secondhand potatoes on them,
and the waiter who takes their order
knows it, too.
"The little shop-girls, clerks, copyists
and bOOkkeepers who come in at noon are
more trouble than they are worth. Their
dinners average 10 cents the year round.
Some take a cup of tea, with bread and
butter, costing one dime. Others pay 5
cents for hot coffee, and furnish their own
sandwiches. But, as a rule, plate of
soup, cup of tea, with bread and butter
and piece of pie is as much as they ever
call for. Such an order costs 30 CENTS,
which amounts to 81 20 week. But de-
duct that sum from their wages of Sc or
less, and you can understand the reason
for their economy.
Eyes. we have a regular line of lady
customers. Artists, music teachers,
dressmakers, milliners, and women en-
gagged in public life, live in buildings or
hotels and go round for their meals. But,
although many of them are independent,
they are very penurious at table, and de-
clare they all appear to live on one hearty
meal a day. For breakfast coffee and
rolls, or a bowl Of hot oatmeal and
crackers, last most of them until about 4
O'Clock, when they take stew, dish of
pudding, and cup of tea.7