The Portland daily press., 1884-12-31
From Pulpit to Gridiron.
Adirondack Murray Cooking Oysters in n
Montreal Cafe.

(Afontreal Correspondence of the New York Sum-
In Notre Dame street, in this city, under
the shadow of Notre Dame Cathedral, the
visitors can find delightful bit of trans
planted New England. It's presiding genius
is the Rev. W. Fl. II. Murray, the hero of the
Adirondack tales, ard the once popular pas
tor of the Park street church in Boston. In
the window are displayed doughnuts and
pigs, brown bread and beans of the genuine
New England style, but at the door a pair of
crossed snow-shoes and sign, "Snow Shoe
Cafe" are very suggestive of Canada.
Learning that the proprietor was once the
noted pastor Of a Fashionable Boston church,
reporter took seat at one of the tables.
The cafe is about 6Ox15 feet. 1t walls are
decorated with toboggans, snow shoes, and
lacrosse sticks. The back portion is raised
about three steps, and is divided from the
rest of the room by fresh muslin curtains,
tied back with bright ribbons. This portion
is reserved for ladies. The table linen is
choice, the china unique, and the great tea
and coffee kettles of polished brass on the
counter complete picture which is aesthetic
and suggestive of comfort. Mr.. Murray
brought the resources OF his intellect to q Sc
rious consideration of the problem of oyster
fries, and the result not only did him credit,
but made the cafe famous. The reporter In
consequence ordered fry, aud had the dis
tnguished honor of seeing his oysters
cooked by the man whose eloquence of
tongue and pen had but few years ago act
staid and critical old Boston in a ferment.
No. H. =
range in the front part of the cafe, and as
Mr.. Murray in his shirt sleeves, proceeded
with the cooking the reporter had an oppor-
tunity of noting the changes which time had
wrought in him since he was the idol of the
Park street church. He is heavier than he
was, and his hair and moustache are more
gray than brown; but his eye is as bright as
ever, and his face still beams with kindly
good nature.
Mr.. Murray arrived in Montreal about 8
year ago in search of health, suffering at the
time from disordered liver. The prepara-
tons for the carnival of 1884 were then in
full blast. He saw great deal of Canadian
sports aud became interested in them. He
did some literary work for the press during
the carnival, and in the early summer con-
ceived the idea of starting cafe. In this
undertaking he was assisted by a married
sister from New England. The plan was to
furnish first-class cafe where well-cooked
and wholesome meals could be had by ladies
and gentlemen without the baneful associa-
tions of spirituons liquors. But while the
merits of the new cafe were speedily ad-
mitted, the prices were high, and the num-
Der of its patrons has necessarily remained
limited.
Il i is understood Mr. Murray intends be-
fore long TO get vigorously at work again,
either on the platform or in the press, and it
is hinted that there will be raking up and
settling of old scores. 1t is said some Amer
can capitalists have offered to equip him
with daily paper, TO be published in Mon
treal, for the purpose of bringing about the
annexation of Canada to the United States
Mr.. Murray is said to live in a very quiet
and unassumiDg way, and he goes very little
into society. His careless notions as to
dress, and his unconventional ways cause
some comment, aud the story is told that
last summer he electrified his friends by ap-
pearing in the street at high noon dressed
only in boots, trousers and a gray flannel
shirt, without coat or vest, aud with Tex
an sombrero with brim fully eighteen
inches in width on his head. His explana-
tion was that he wanted to keep cool.