Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-04
ODD SIGHTS IN GOTHAM.
CATERERS OF EVERY CLASS IN
BIG DEMAND.


body Noticed and Nobody Knew-A
Visit to the Old JumeI Mansion.
New YORK, July 3.-The caterer is
now power in New York. few years
ago well stocked household was consid-
cred sufficient unto itself, but now The
caterer and his assistants are called in
for anything out of the regular order OF
things, from luncheon of six people 10
a supper for five hundred guests. There
are caterers of every grade, from good
natured and hard working negroes VINO
serve meals to bachelors living in cheap
rooms at prices ranging from 30c. 10 zoe
meal up TO the Pinards, who pretend TO
be a peg higher even than Delmonlcos.
The humber caterers may be seen trudg-
ing along in the morning from their homes
in the poorer quarters OF the city, lugging
oblong tin boxes that have been Japanned
a seal brown at a date more or less re-
mote, and vending their way toward
sleeping bachelors all over town. Inc
tin boxes are about a foot square and TWO
feet and a half high with big hardie on
the top Within are tin shelves. Under
the bottom shelf are alcohol lamps. On
the shelf Is a platter with chops, STEAK or
ham The space between that Shelf ana
the next is only three inches, but the
shelves above 1t are about nVe inches
apart to give room Tor the cups, saucers,
coffee and milk pots and sugar bowl. All
of these things have their slots, into which
they hit closely. The top shelf is used for
the table cloth and napkins. The 'front.'
of the box is door. IL swings open and
exhibits the breakfast TO the hungry
lodger when the caterer bustles into bis
room. More pretentlous KITS than TINS
are sent out by the hotels and restau-
rants. breakfast may be carried miles
through the snowy streets and laid on the
table hot and inviting. The catering de-
partment of the big restaurant Is very
important one. There is prejudice
against boarding houses IN New ORR.
At all events it is exceedingly unfasbion-
able TO live in one, and the people VINO are
not supplied by caterers from choice are
from awe OF the form Of fashion. Con-
tracts to serve meals may be made with
the big restaurants at rates far below the
regular figures on the bill of fare. But
perhaps the caterer is most highly appre-
cfated by people who entertain. Instead
of bulldoZiug the regulation Irish COOK
into preparing dinner for a number of
guests no, to the caterer settles II all.
There is the no hurry, no delay, no wran-
giles with servants, and the surety OF
good dinner well ana promptly served.
guests to arrive, wagon of the hearse
pattern with chimney through the roof
drives no NImble assistants carry in
the wine from the refrigerator In one end
of the wagon and the edibles from the hot
compartment in the other end. Every
thing is there. from the flowers to the salt.
The regular servants retire and the ca
terer takes possession OF tue kitchen, pan
try and dining room until the guests have
gone Then the wagon drives up again
and in twenty minutes all traces OF the
dinner party, whether to six or a hundred
guests, have disappeared. This plan of
giving dinners grows more and more pop
ular every year.
THE USEFUL CATERER.
The extent VIII h the fashionable
New York housewife depends ON the ca
terer rot only for food but for nearly
everything else in the way OF entertain
ing is growing more and more noticeable.
These useful servants take all the details
OF the work OF party giving of the hands
OF the hostess. They lay the dancing
cloth, provide musicians, have the dane
Ing orders composed and printed, deco
rate the rooms, put the storm aN nlngs,
number the carriages, proViQe extra
chairs, coat checks, supper and help, and
virtually give the entertainment All the
lady of the house has to do is to walk
when they begin TO arrive. The cost of all
this Is very much less than one would
imagine, and the din, hubbub and
anDoyances that prevail when the
house servants undertake the work is
avoided.
Masy queer characters wander around
the streets OF New York until hundreds of
thousands OF people get to know them by
sight and to look regularly for them every
"a my do
them is never cleared. One Of the most
remarkable Of these creatures of mystery
was tall. square-shOuldeTed and military
looking man of perhaps go years, whose
appearance was so much out OF the ordi-
nary run that at first people stopped in the
street to stare after MIN, and he was the
object OF many boisterous Jlhe and jeer.
Yet there was something majestic and
even trace OF the pathetic about him,
and alter he had stalked about our streets
for eight or nine years oldish men and wo-
men bowed to him cOurteOusly 2s he pass
ed. He acknowledged such salutatiOns
with an eager smile and passed on. No one
was ever able to draw aim in O conyersa-
ton and even the detectives were unable
TO tell where he lived, though they tried
to find out number OF times out OF sport
or curiosity. The mysterious stranger
wore black br0adcloth constantly and his
frock coat was unusually long. His
shoulders were very broad and he wore
the smallest Of black glove, and KID boots
/ never saw him without a small black
cane, and he never rode in car or cab
stalking along with n strong military
stride through the SHOWS OF winter or the
bliatering sun OF August. He never stool
still. but went on and on like the Wander
ing Jew. His wrinklcd face was embel
lisned by black moustache with waXeC
ends, and his big black eyes looked GU
moarnfully from beneath bushy brows
He was scrupulously polite and the pc
hcemen often saluted him on his daily
walks and not in spirit of derisiOn either
The old man has disappeared as suddenly
as be came. No man knew him here ant
probably no man could more heartily in
dOrse the saving that the lOneliest plac
III the world is a great city.
THE OLD JUNIEL MANSION
is within ten minutes walk of the Harlem
end Of the Sixth Avenue Elevated rail
road. The house has been newly painted
and the massive wooden pillars and facad
were as white as marble. The greer
shutters gave it more OF Puritan than
HugUenot appearance. The fences nav
been removed from the park, and severa
wooden houses smut the mansion partl'
of from the street. 1T stands ON ST. NIch
olas avenue, near High Bridge. 1t cover
about the highest ground on Washington
Haiphfs and formerly au1pl q vie IA