Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-18
NICE, BUT NOT PROFITABLE.
The Patronage of Ladies' in the Restsu
rants-A Case In Point.

The Patronage of Ladies' in the Restsu-
rants-A Case In Point.
The tinkle of glass and the subdued
clatter of dishes such as obtain in a well
conducted restaurant were keeping up a
certain Rhythmic movement yesterday in
fashionable lunchiny room Of the shop
ping district, when a reporter stopped "A
moment at the desk
. You seem TO be doing thriving bust
ness" he remarked. indicating as he
spoke, the rows of occupied tables before
him.
HIN" replied the proprietor, letting
his eye wander judiciously in the same di-
rectiou, do you know young man that
>han't take in enough off that crowd to
buy one of Macy's little peachhlow jugs
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
lie treasured up in heaven for certain
don't get il here"
is this a straight tipy" queried the ex
perienced reporter.
I'm telling You sober truth" the
restaurant man replied with much
earnestness 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
every day She came in here three
quarters of an hour ago by the clock, she
and her little boy; she walked through
until she found table unoccupied and
took possession The table accommodates
four but Lord love You, it barely holds one
like 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, hlled the
other two chairs with her bundles, cloak,
etc, then picked up the menu card and
began to study it.
Il could have told you what she would
order at once. but il took her fully five
minutes before she coniided TO the patient
waiter her wants He was back in less
than three with her lunchl,l-a bowl OF
consomme for herself and a glass OF milk
for sonny.
Bread, Of course, is served with the
soup, and the two have made a 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. | can
see 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"
will she fee the waiters' That's too
silly question 10 answer. I'm not done
with her yet" he added under his breath,
as the lady approached laden with parcels
and leading 3-year-old boy by the
hand
That's Just the change, believe" she
remarked, dropping three l0cent pieces
ON the marble before her, land will you
be good enough to check these parcels
and this umbrella for me. ! shan't be go
ing uptown for couple of hours yet, she
added, eXplanatorily.
Certainly, madam"
Thank you very much. Oh, by the
way, you may give ME back that largest
parcel | want TO send II by express.
Yes, that one. Thank you Do you
think that sufficiently secure for an eI-
press pareel!"
Il think SO; but can tie it in another
wrapper II you wish"
1t might be better; l shall be much
obliged. Come, Dickie. Oh" return
ing, Il may send messenger for the
parcels, will there be any charge"
Certainly not, madam"
oh, thank you. Come, Dickie.'
The proprietor and the reporter each
lrew long breath and looked at one an
Other-New York Times.