Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-16
AN EXPENSIVE MEAL.
The Extravagant Dinner Consumed b.,
 One Man . Wager.

The Extravagant Dinner Consumed b, l One Man on . Wager
 Some few gentlemen happened to be dining few weeks ago nt the fashionable restaurant, the Cafe dc Paris, and one of them asserted | that it was impossible for single person to 1 eat dinner that should cost 500 francs, and that he would pay for it if he tthe eater) l could. The Vicomte de Viel Castel accepted the challenge
 But when say one person, I" he stipulated, Il don't mean plowman, but gourmet, an | epicure, myself; and when l say eat, of course 1t includes drink. Nothing is easier will dine, even here, at the Cafe de Paris, after drawing up my own bill of fare, and will dispatch, without help, your 500 franc dinner"
 Leaving nothing in the plates and dishes9" "Yes; l shall leave the bones"
 "But you won't breakfast that dayg
 II shall breakfast as usual"
 'Let it come off, then, tomorrow; here, at
 in the evening""
 The maitre d'hotel was summoned and con- ''ulted. It was the depth of winter; the Vlcomte wanted forced fruits and vegetables; the shooting season was over, he insisted on game. The maitre dhotel's request for a week to prepare in was granted The um- pires were to dine at separate tables, to the right and left of the vicomte's table He was allowed two hours to dine in, from till 9, and he might either talk or hold his tongue
 At the appointed day and hour the parties met and took their places. The bill of fare was still a mystery. The first things served were twelve dozen Ostend oysters and a half bottle of Johannisberg. The vicomte's ap- petite was sharp. He asked for twelve more dozen oysters and another half bottle of the same wine. Then came swallows nest soup, which the vicomte poured into a basin and drank off at draught, like a cup of tea.
 Mia foi, messieurs," he said "I feel hun gry today. Will you allow me to indulge longinga l adore beefsteak and fried pota- toes. That's an extra which I will pay for myself. Waiter, Q bottle of Bordeaux, grand cru.n
 The umpires stared at one another. The beefsteak and potatoes were brought and consumed to the very last scrap.
 And now for the fish? Messieurs, this is a ferrat from the Lake of Geneva, the only place where it is found. It arrived this morning alive, in the water of its native lake The ferrat is delicious fish; advise you to try it. Waiter, another bottle of the same Bordeaux"
 Five minutes afterward all that remained of the ferrat was the bones Then came the thrilled pheasant, which was demolished in about ten minutes more. Then the salmis or ragout of ortolans, ten in number, each of which made just one mouthfuL Forced asparagus, green peas from Africa, straw berries and pineapple followed, with a half bottle of Constantia, and then coffee and iQueures, all of which were consumed to the last scrap and drop.
 The unpires acknowledged that everything had been executed Loyalty and literally above board. It only remained to call for the bill. Total, 54S francs, 50 centimes. A few only or the items need be cited: Swallows nest soup, l5O francs; beefsteak and potatoes ? francs; ferrat from tho Lake of Geneva, 40 francs; two bottles of Bordeaux, grand cru, 20 francs; rawberries, 20 francs
 The only comment that need be made is, that for the same sum of money plain but hearty meal might have been given to 800 hungry men, women and children.-Ameri- can Analyst.