Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08

kRA "a ecary shop invited every one to come
G1 EsV in and have "A mug of bouillon free
)( Of a sh nsvsoaDsr man regard, !, .. Mn.
professional, not to say discourteous, to decline
any invitation of that sort. The STAR reporter
was just draining his gratuitous allowance OF the
artificial beef tea when the attendant behind
the counter, who had seemed much agitated
while pouring the palatable solution from the
urn, suddenly Remarked
did you see that shaboy-looking man who
went out at the same moment you came inn"
Il didn't notice him particularly"
"Well," said the beef-juice dissemination, with
a sigh, "Fve been in great trouble with that
customer for the last three days. He came in
here on Wednesday morning and grinned hsr-
ribly as he observed:
81 see that you serve bouillon free of
charge
HOSPITALITY Is BUSINESS.
eyes, SIR / responded as pleasantly as /
knew how. we offer this particularly excellent
article without demanding any payment for it.
Indeed, have been instructed by my employer
to refuse money for it under all circumstances.
l trust that you will find it an agreeable
beverage
cit suits me- said the see6y stranger, both
as to the quality of the article and the price.
will testify to my appreciation of the stuff by
calling again.
.'And he did," continued the attendant AT
the urn. HE came in eighteen times that day,
by actual count, and on each occasion re-
marked:
81 understand tina. you decline to receive
any money for this?'
"And l would reply:
az am not permitted to accept anything,
sir '''''
Then he would swallow his drink with a
smack OF the lips and take his departure"
HE CAME AGAIN.
"Did you see him the next day?" inquired
The STAR writer.
"Quite as much as desired. He dropped in
twenty-six times, and on each occasion took a
cupful, remarking always:
~ hope | am not abusing your hospitality"
80 he is here again today"
swell, should smile. Seventeen times he
has been here already since 3 O'Clock this
morning. On the occasion of his last visit but
one-about three-quarters of an hour ago-he
said:
"'Do you know am starvingY"
II looked at him in surprise, and replied:
"'You astonish me. 1 should have thought
that you were being fairly provided with sus-
tenance here. Within the last three DAYS you
must have consumed at this counter the essen
tial properties of about sixty pounds of meat
'1oung man, ne answered, sententlously,
you are evidently unaware that beef tea--even
that prepared by natural processes from the
meat directly-is not really a nutrient. Ply
sicians have repeatedly experimental with it
and found that 1t was merely mild and pala-
table stimulant But il certainly will not support
human life. 1t has even been found by expert
ment that dog supplied with unlimited beef
tea will
DIE OF STARVATION PURE AND SIMPLE
For three days have been living on bouillon.
which, however gratifying to my sense Of
taste and even temporarily exhilarating TO my
empty stomach, has not given my system any,
thing to feed upon. Consequently i am famish-
ing 1t has almost occurred to me that might
be abusing the generosity of your invitation; but
h leen treasured by what you have said
as 10 your invariable habit of refusing
to accept payment for the Inequalities YOU
offer. And feel encouraged to ask if you will
not lend me the price of q glass of whisky-not
that desire the whisky at all, for indeed I
abhor it-but merely in order that NAV pro-
cure portion OF the sustaining free lunch
which accompanies 1t At this time Of day."
'.Did you lend him the money!"
81 did-just to get rid OF / m. And he came
in again just a moment before you arrived 10
get another mug Of bouilon, saying as he
gulped it down:
"'Don't you know felt in need of some-
thing With which to wash down the meal have
had understand you to say that You decline
TO accept any remuneration for this Ell? Well,
II you really refuse to take any payment for il
I suppose it would not be weil-bred for me 70
insist So good-byer"