The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-21
NICE, BUT NOT PROFITABLE.
The Patronage of Ladies in the Restau-
rants-A Case in Point.

AnS patronage OF LADIES IN the EAesbAh-
rants-A Case in Point.
The tinkle glass and the subdued
slater of dishes such as obtain in we'll
conducted restaurant were keeping up
certain rhythmic movement yesterday in
fashionable launching room of the shop
ping district, when a reporter stopped
moment at the desk.
"You seem to be doing a thriving bust
ness" he remarked, indicating as he
spoke. the rows of occupied tables before
him.
"H-m," replied the proprietor, letting
his eye wander judiciOusly in the same di-
rection; do you know young man that L
shan't take in enough off that crowd to
buy one of Macy's little peachblow jugsf
This is the time o. day when the ladies,
God bless 'em, come to lunch with me,
and except the pleasure of their pretty
faces and soft speeches, my reward must
Do treasured up in heaven, for certain 1
don't get it here"
ais this g straight tip?" qUeried the ex-
perienced reporter.
'T'm telling you sober TRUTH" the
restaurant man replied with much
sarnestness of manner. "Take that lady
over there, for instance, pointing to one
sitting about halfway down the room,
and she is only one of dozens like her
sYery day. She came in here three
quarters of an hour ago by the clock, she
and her little boy; she walked TIN ugh
until she found a table unOccupied and
took possession The table accommodates
four, but Lord love you, it barely holds one
ike her, comfortably. She had the
waiter bring high chair for young club,
took off his hat and coat, used one big
dinner napkin to pin around his neck and
another to lay over his lap, filled the
other two chairs with her bundles, cloak,
ETC., then picked up the menu card and
began to study it.
II could have told you what SIZE would
order at once, but it took her fully five
minutes before she confided to the patient
waiter her wants. He was back in less
than three with her lunch(?)-a bowl of
consomme for herself and glass of milk
for sonny.
BREAD, of course, is served with the
soup, and the two have made slow and
hearty lunch She finished a few minutes
ago, ordered a finger bowl, took one OF the
napkins, and, dipping it in water, scrubbed
the boys face and hands, wiped them
with the other napkin, and is now pulling
and setting herself for departure. 1 can
gee from here that the tablecloth is plenti-
fully sprinkled with milk and soup-she
fed the boy some of that too-and must be
taken off at once She has used three
large dinner napkins, has occupied two
more places than she pays for, sat IN the
restaurant nearly an hour, and her check
$50 cents"
"WilI she fee the walters? That's too
silly question to answer Pm not done
with her yet, he added under his breath,
as the lady approached laden with parcels
and leading a 3-year-old boy by the
hand.
"That's just the change, believe" she
remarked, dropping three lO-cent pieces
On the marble before her, land will you
be good enough to check these parcels
and this umbrella for me. l shan't be go
ing uptown for a couple of hours yet, she
added, explanatory.
Certainly, madam"
Thank you very much. Oh, by the
way, you may give me back that largest
parcel. 1 want to send it by express.
Yes, that one. Thank You. Do you
think that sufficiently secure for an ex-
press parcel?"
81 think so; but l can tie it in another
wrapper if you wish"
at might be better; 1 shall be much
obliged Come, Dickie. Oh" return
ng, 81 may send a messenger for the
parcels, viii there be any charge"
Certainly not, madam"
"Oh, thank you. Come, Dickie."
The proprietor and the reporter each
drew long breath and looked at one an
1ther-New York Times