Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-08
THE HIGH SCHOOL AT LUNCH.
How Fried Oysters, Sandwiches, Pea
nuts, and Chocolate Disappeared.

Sandwiches. &C.; fried oysters. Sc; three
fried oysters, pickle, 1Oc.; cake, Sc; ohoco
late, &C.; popcorn, &C.; peanuts. Sc: oranges;
&c.; bananas, lc." This was the bill-of-fare
posted in all the elass-rooms and study-hall Of
the High school last Thursday morning. The
boys stood in groups in front of the notice and
wondered how far the fifteen cents in their in
side pockets would go. and whether peanuts
and bananas or chocolate and cake were more
filling for the price. The third-vear girls. who
had charge of the lunch. went around with q
very knowing air. They disappeared upstairs
staggering under baskets Of crockery, or they
ran along bearing tenderly parcel smelling
suspiciously like cake Tablecloths Walters
mays. pickles, and celery all were carried into
the drlll-halL The doors were kept closed. but
the gathering of dishes and the giggling Of
girls made their way through the trausoms into
the corridor. The entire school was peryaded
by an air of cunyiyiahtv and eNpsctancv,
Lessons were bore and knowledge Mearincss
TO the flesh. The school girl aud her doinSs
were more interesting than the noblest Roman
OF them all, and Latin roots could not compare
an the matter of attraction with celery.
When the bell rang at IL 30 the hungry
crowd rushed into the hall. 20 behold 10
changed indeed On ali sides were tables
laden with the good things of life and pro-
tectcd by walters who were determined TO sell
out or die ia the attempt. With a remarkable
cigar box. from which it might be concluded
that either the High school girls are gwen TO
smoking or else that the boys contributed the
boxes as well rs a good share of what went into
them. Possibly because the fruit table was
nearest the door: possibly because the average
mortal Is prone TO spend his money for that
which Is not bread-at any rate for some good
reason-before i've minutes had passed all the
fruit had vanished. The hundred and eighty
bananas and thirty-slN oranges had disap-
peared. and the eNultant table-girl declared
she could have sold as many more. Then tho
crowd turned Its attention 10 the hundred pop
corn bags-white, pink and green; and 10 the
half bushel of peanuts. anu soon that table
also was thing OF the past. The only traces
OF Its former glory-the empty shells-being
thrown down and trampled under foot Over
in the corner were the sandwiches-three hun:
dred rolls spread with ham. Ever since 3
o clock the girls had been preparing them-al
eaten yoraciousy in ten minutes. and still the
crowd, like Oliver Twist. asked for more.
On the other side of the hall were the Eve
hundred fried oysters-cooked at the school
opposite. Those scholars who were content
with one speared itwith wooden toothpicks,
and ate it without undue ceremony. Those
who were more aristocratic bought three, and
had a wooden plate. pickle and some celery
Gen. Greedy II to be thanked for sending a
cold day. for had IL been warm some of those
oysters might have withered on the stalk. so TO
speak. But they did not. They NAV be con-
sldered great social successes. for they vera
most constantly called for and were universally
pleasing.
But the cake should not be sighted. There
were two long tables covered with it-frosted
and unfrosted fruit or no fruit. lemon. orange,
sunshine aud chocolate. all kinds and varieties
that ever a cook made a girl ate. You paid
your money and You took your choice. and soon
1t too he'd vanished like a beautiful dream.
After the scholars had consumed all this food,
naturally they were thirsty. and went 10 besiege
the chocolate table. The oil stove did its best,
and the girls poured out two hundred mugs Of
chocolate and two gallons of milk as fast as
their tired arms would permit. 1t is not sur
prislng that such thirst should have taken
possession of the school. since il had eaten
three hundred fried oysters, three hundred
sandwiches, four hundred pieces of cake, one
hundred bags of popcorn, one hundred pickles,
one-half bushei of peanuts aud twelve lunches
OF celery, and then wasn't satisfied.
The tables and many dishes were kindly
loaned the school BIZ the Cniyersalst church
The food was contributed by the scholars either
directly from home or in money. Great gener-
osity was shown by parents and by the boys,
who did not spare their pocket money, ana the
girls who had the matter IN charge may be COM
graduated on their marked success. The
amount earned is about SIS. and is to 60 10 the
library and the contingent expenses.