Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-26
WHAT THE LADIES LUNCH ON.
They Rum Mostly TO Fluffy Pastry aud
Ice Cream, and 10 do Many Men.

They were two jolly looking girls, bright-eyed
and clear-skinned. and In a quiet way seemed to
be thoroughly enjoying their little midday repast
at a popular downtown lunch-room much fire.
quented by ladies. They attracted The STAR
reporters eye, not by any loudness OF manner, but
by the earnest attention they were paying to each
others subdued remarks and to their coffee and
rolls which latter were disappearing with q ra-
pidity Indicative Of envable condition Of appe.
Iite- Their jaws worked quickly. but gracefully,
and while they seemed to be in something of .
hurry, they took only small lady like bites which
never interfered with the lively dow OF converse
the rCSm om the
with other tables intervening, so that
he was able to gTatify the curiosity they
ing their serenity by the consciousness that they
were objects OF particular attention. So the re-
az Se the Having pretty
waiter and whispered something TO him. He hur.
lied on and soon returned with another supply OF
and gracefully absorbed, and again the waiter
came In response TO smiling glance from one
q the fair lunchers When he returned from his
foraging expedition In the kitchen this time he
bore on his tray large plate Of buns and some
puny-looking pastry. Another order was Wills
pered him he left and before the visible supply
Of buns and pastry had been more than han ex-
hausted ne returned, bearing 20 his pretty Gus
toners two full-grown pieces OF strawberry short
cake, with little pitchers OF cream and Two fresh
cups OF coffee.
THE sHoRTCAKE WAS ATTACKED
in a very few moments with no percept1ble abate.
ment OF vigor but ere the last mouthful of IL had
disappeared both girls gave signs Of approaching
safety. When the plates were cleared there was
some comparing Of notes as to the condition of
their respective appetites. IL did not take long
for them TO reach a decision, however, and once
more the walter was called There was some
slight hesitation about giving the order this time
and both evidently changed their minds a couple
OF times Finally the attendant got away, and
when he reappeared he set down before his Gus
toners two dishes each containing two large egg
shaped masses Of ice-cream, one pure white, the
other or clear orange hue: The sight Of this
delictOuS-lOOking stun seemed to revive the flag.
ging appetitss OF the girls and they began to ply
their spoons with renewed animation.
But the reporter had seen enough, and flled
with mild amazement that delicate girls could
absorb such quantities OF dyspepsia-breedlng
SKINS, he paid his check and made for the door
Before he left, however, he stopped 10 tell the
ION, that's nothing" that individual remarked.
81 think, as a rule, the girls have the largest
checks 10 pay for lunch. And they seem to prosper
on the kind OF food which gives other people
dyspepsia. But then we make all our own pastry
aud take care not TO have IL very rich or greasy,
do most Of your customers make their lunches
On the cream-pun and tce-cream order OF fOOd7n
the reporter inquired
-Yes, nearly all OF them, men as well as women.
most people who come here for lunch. They want
doughnuts, Pie, buns, charlotte russo cream pufYs
and ice-crealn- Nine-tenths OF the girs and women
include ice-cream in their lunches. some girls
take plate after plate OF It and seem never TO
really get enough. They dissipate ON II. There
are men. too, who have Q passion for ice-cream.
and always wind up their lunches with it.
THE REIGN OF THE sHoKrcAxk
"Just now, naturally. the great lunch material
Is strawberry shorteake,D the cashier continued
I've make great quantities Of It every day and
nearly always run out OF It before night The
best part OF our business Is done between 10 and
) O'Clock. In that time just now We serve between
two and three hundred people with shortcake
Then we average daily from one hundred TO one
hundred and nifty pies, which are cut into four
pieces each, besides large quantities OF doughnuts
and light pastry.
You see, most OF our customers are people in
the departments, who lead sedentary lives and do
not require much solid food Then many ladies'
when down town shopping. make q practice OF
stopping In here for lunch, and all they care for of
course, Is something light and inviting"