New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
HUMAN NATURE AT TABLE.
HOW 1T rs EXHIBITED AT THE HOTELS.
SOME OF THE AMUSING TYPES SEEN IN PUbLio
nINING-RoOMs.

meas with his knife It Is a curious and interesting sight
TRIBUNE reporter has been observing the bsppe~
ings at hotel diung rooms Of ate and here are some
| Of then-
thin little woman leading four children, came into
the supperrt of ons Of tho city hotels last week
There were three boys and girl and they probably
included between seven and thirteen years OF ago
They had evidently boon travelling, and tho children.
| though not used to public dnipgrooms' all nso
chldrens appetes Each ono demanded Dill OF fare'
and studied 1t eagerly. There q moments silence
| and then-
aMa want some Strawberries and Bath bun. and
| -and,-a banana
sMa want some turkey and prnrkn pie"
| @Ma Ma, do they have bear steaksf'
81 don't know, my son-Wille, stop reaonins ror inc
butter, and put down that knife
Hero q commotion arose owing to dispute between
the eldest boy and the next relative to the chang
ing of their order to "goden buck tho second boy
contenng that 10 would be better to order all mncs
pie because they know what that was.
"Na, what's . oanvssback duckr
| ats kind Of Wild duck"
"what docs 1t have canvas for, to put up when it
rains :"
Hero tho waiter, having prepared ice-water all
| around, assumed Q receptive attitude and tho thin
woman said, "ws Just want . Light supper Inc
children are not hungry she explained, and 1t isn't
good for them to cat much before going to bed You
might bring butered toast. tea and sewed prunes
two portions Of each will do"
And then eight sad young oyes from which tho lgn1
of pie and turkey had faded, followed the waiter a. no
vanished toward the kitchen
They came into the restaurant Of q hotel on the
" European plan.n 1t would scarcely have been pos
| slble to find q more Unmatched pair. lie was
nervous, Huttering little man, with white nar brushed
so stfy up that II 1t had been long enough IL would
have met in apex and formed sort Of wigwam
above bis mead She was Q large, coldly aggressive
| woman dressed in green velvet, and iat enough "
remind one Of pin cushion covered with green plush.
No sooner were they settled than the large woman
| gras ped the bill Of fare, and the small man having
made one or timd suggestions, substantial DreaA
fast was ordered. Them however, ensued proHac'ea
walt. Fifteen minutes heightened into twenty anu
| the breakfast had not appeared
Edward" said the largo woman briefly go o'or
| and ask the clerk what the trouble Is. Maybe tho
| cook is dead
| The little man cast an appealing glance at his wire,
and then started toward the desk lie had scarcely
opened conversation with the cashier however, "hoh'
unseen by him, the breakfast arrived STEAK conee'
| rolls and four boiled eggs, were duly arranged on
the table, Tho large woman stood ON no cereniohy.
She glanced at the distant form of her husband ina
began to open eggs. When she had broAen Iireo
| into her glass, she said Sharply
| "Water, my husband IS loafng around over there
by the desk; go and tell him that I've eaten one o.
his eggs already, and If he doesn't rustic himself
| III eat the other"
| A tall old man with rather vacant look ana a
| hes ating air ventured slowly Into the dhhs han
! Of a large uptown hotel the other evening 1t was
the usual dinner hour and the long room was "0i
filed with guests. The old man paused, scrutlnzed
bis cuffs and his waistcoat, and after making what
seemed TO be helpless effort to gaze at the BACK Oh
| hs neck he beckoned to the head waiter lha'
| hlnctionary FASTENED up, and the old man sSa
an1iousy.
awaiter, do I look all right, tidy, you know
The waiter inspected the venerable guest critically
| for moment and then assured him That all was AZ
order.
"Neclrie all right"
eyes SIR"
"Colar button showf"
! "Not at all, sir
"No spots ~. co@
"NOt spot" -. ...
aThs general effect Is pretty slick, is itT
avery, STR" IA
gwen YOU see, WAITER" said the old man conn
dcntialy. al came down to breakfast one Gay h'''
.reot without any collar, and my son James was
80 .ncrv. so Yesterday when 1 came into lunch
,,h NV necte under my left ear, he said II anything
,,he that happened again no would have my meas
,an,,od un-stalrs Do you know my son James,
waiter7'
ayes, SIR"
ais no in here at dinner nowf
GNo sir, finished ABOUT ten Hho'o' SoS
@Are you surel"
9Well them walter,r said tho old man In relieved
tones you're certain Of 1t, you tell the man at QUIZ
table to hustle corned beef and cabbage ana
not to play any of his French business on NO. OF Ah
| break his neck"
| Tho b,tc, custom of supplying rack outside the
dining hail door where hats to BIO deposited de-
onds for ts success on the honesty Of the guests,
and II sometimes happens that while the man Is slowing
away q good square meal, some stranger IS quietly
vanishing with his hat This generally depehus on
the quality Of the hat. pleasant looking man
came out of hotel dining room recently In that COM
placeut mood which good dinner inspires. ard dis
covered that his hat was gone.
Are YOU sure you left It tho rackl" inquired tho
headwater.
"of course am said the bareheadcd, unfortunate
man.
"some has probably taken It by mistake" reoIncd
the waiter reassuringly you had better go down 10
the Office and watch all the hats that cUine H."
This advice seemed sound so no guest proceeded TO
scrutlnlze all the head gear In sight Hats OF all
1Ss co0 ,h ana hfdi sos
trated on the hat which tall man was wearing and
he fastened up TO him.
"wlI you findy let me look on the inside OF your
hat he inquired with eyes fastened on tho familiar
derby.
what for1' asked the stranger in surprise;
al think possibly you've made o mistake and taken
my hat.'
81 have not
al know 1t by that white paint spot on tho brim'
insisted tho guest.
mo you don't got that paint stain last September
upon Lake Champaign
81 would like to SEQ the inside.'
well, II you want to see the inside you'll have to
knock that hat OF first what do you say1'
Tho unfortunate guest gave lingering look at
tho hat, and then said sadly "Never mind.
think perhaps that paint spot doesn't look familiar
ONE OF EERRMANNS TRICKS,
From The Pinsbuyg DfspateA
4. WRen Hermann was here, six weeks ago." said