The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
ABOUT WATERS.
A Queer Why 10 Win Quarters-lIs Could
he Both Attentive aud lnvisibie.

once knew large fat, and suave wait
err said man who was smoking at ono OF the
tables OF Dolmonico's caf@ yesterday, 80 who
was employed here for a short time Prior to
that he was at the Brunswick. He has boon in
nearly every prominent restaurant in New
York, and he has waited on me at intervals for
the last seven eight years. don't know
what has become Of him now but | am Just as
sure that shall encounter him again as am
that live to-day. His popularity is the anfaz-
ing grace and ease with which he upsets things
on tho table. He is a pleasant man. who never
forgets to holp you on with your coat or to have
your plate well warmed, and he is not unusual
ly anxious for fee. But he is certainly most
astounding and clever in turning over glasses.
cructs. celery dishes, and the like. He never
seems bit surprised or chagrined at
doing it, but departs with the utmost
dignity for n fresh napkin or towel
with which to set things right. l made it
n custom to present him with quarter every
time he upset anything on my table. 1t began
in jest. but il has continued during my ac-
quaintancc with him. lie overturns something,
and pull n quarter from my pocket with the
utmost gravity and give 1t t., MIN. He receives
II with tho dignity OF n Prime Minister ac-
ceptinE decoration and goes his way pre-
sumo he was released from his engagement
things had for him.
Perhaps it was for tho customary quarter"
lHHElHe NO IlSt moro quarters through
those vagaries Of his than he ever found. /
have dined during the past fifteen years at
clubs and restaurants nearly every night and
Am always more or less amused ut the wait
ers. bachelor who habitually dimes alone, as
| do. gets in the way OF paying perhaps too
much attention to things OF this sort but the
:. :. Where have you found the best waiter p"
walters in the Hoffman. Delmonico's. the
brunswick, or amy other hrst-class restaurant.
ono occas onaly however runs across an ideal
nnOhtruSiya
thoughtful and who serves you we'll without
corning the food. | think that perhaps the
best waiter W ho ever served me was an old ne
gro ny in Judge Smiths road house. One AZ
tho rond with friend OF mine who had lust re-
turned from across the water. had been ont
VIZ started nbou: 2 o'clock. and Just rs we got
| on the loGG eastern drive of the Park there was
a TsmfMx2T7 s@n Of Thunder and the rain
cart, but the horses skinned along with it as
though it were skeleton wagon. We
but We didn't mind it just then. was try
ing to nGure out whore we we're going to land
II didn't succeed in, getting control Of the
horses. Fortunately, got them under control
h"t"r" "e came to the cato. We turned into
Park put the horses under cover and drank
ho; apple toddics for two or three hours until
i ,, r2in ceased; You know there is nothing
hot apple toidv, followed by brisk drive in tho
open ar. We took long jog and got back at 7
feet. and IT was served by nm old dnrky who,
as have said, was the most attentive waiter
have ever met. lie was az soft and gentle on
| his feat "a AN old cat, and he moved the dishes
on ana on tn" tnbie with the most miraculous
noi,elcSsn"ss one found everything he wanted
at his elbow continually the wines were pre-
ct-ely Of he right temperature. and he matches
invariably Mt hand and yet You never saw tho
waiter ut all. have been there half dozen
times since lust for the pleasure Of being waited
upon by that l"ntle and def old negro. Par
haIs tn" worst walters are Americans They
are invariably above their business and per-
hars thoy have II right TO be- and they do not
accept their tips as matter Of course. but in a
shama-faced way French walters are too
t"ntntious, and what you might call ford, and
English walters are too heavy. Tho slim Young
man from SwiN"rland are about us delft and
pleasant class of walters rs any"