Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-24
BEEFSTEAK DINNERS.
0ld-Fashioned FeaStS of the Most
Popular Kind Served Amid
SEVERELY SIMPLE SURROUNDINGS
An Elegantly Dressed Woman Whose Acts
Cause Much Comment.
ACTORS WHO KEEP ALL THEIR DIMES
SIMPLE SURROUNDINGS
ACTORS WHO KEEP ALL THEIR DIMES
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE pIsPArcH.1
NEW YORK, March 23.-Giving beefsteak
dinners is an old-time custom, which is still
in vogue among few epicures here in New
York. Many years ago, Uncle Bill Miller's
tavern, in upper Broadway, was the resort
for all the prominent uen of the day who
were fond of good steak, and the register,
which contains autographs of celebrities in
every line of life, is an interesting, as well
as valuable book to delve through. Miller
has retired, immensely rich, but still for the
pleasure of the gathering. he gives treat to
party OF his old friends now He still re-
taIns the famous old school house stove"
on which he cooked steaks for 40 years.
Such people as Delmonico Conkling, Stokes.
DR.. Depew, Booth and other equally prominent
men have sat down stools about table mi
nus linen cover. The mode of preparing
one OF these steaks as carried out by Uncle
Bill will perhaps be interesting to the DIS
PATCH readers of gastronomic turn.
The delicacies are all cooked on one Of the old
fashioned wood burning stoves and nothing
but hickory logs, each two feet long. are used
as fuel. They are allowed to burn until they
can be broken up into fine embers. Over these
Goals gridiron holding five large steaks, two
inches thick, are placed. The meat is espe-
cially kept for these dinners for five and six
weeks, frozen TO very tender degree. While
is large pan of pure country butter which Is
melted and served for a gravy. After the
steaks are finished, they are stepped in the boil
ing butter. A number of slices of bread are
toasted upon which the steaks are served to
each guest who is provided only with large
napkin. no knife, fork or plate being used. The
steaks are so tender that no knife is needed,
and truly they melt in ones mouth" First
as an "apnetiser'' glass of sherry is given the
guest, while during the meal common bar
glass of English ale is served to accompany the
luscious rare bit.
The dinner generally lasts until everyone is
completely satisfied in appetite, and the one |
who eats the most is presented with a medal of |
the leathern kind. Recently a Pittsburger |
took off the prize easily. After the steak por- |
tion is over, as dessert nice French chop is |
given to induce digestion, then a song is sung |
Dy the party. and the banquet is at an end. |
The custodian of such affairs now is Uncle /
Nick Engle. who very courteously gives many a |
party of PittsburgerS or other out-of-towD /
friends the rare treat of a beefsteak dinner.
THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.
saw woman of evident refinement reeling |
along Sixth avenue the other night. She wore |
stylish garments and diamonds glIttered upon |
her l saw her enter the family entrance" of |
one of the most notorious dives along this thor
oughfare, and l afterward inquired from
one of the habitues of the place who
she was. ''She's de mystery, she is,
an a dead swell Teddy. She's out on
Sandy which occurs every month. See her
SlItln IN Oere at Qe table. None OF dc gang
dare make move against her. She is away up
in addition, and travels with the upper ten peo-
pie See?"
became interested in her. and my friend
with me- and l inquired into her identity more
fully. One of the colored walters then told me
this much of her history: 1.-The lady is married |
woman, of the most delicate manners who simply |
goes out Summing for excitement and for her
love for liquor She generally travels in a
coach, with a driver, and you never see anyone
talking to her. If she is addressed by any
stranger her answers are generally of such
dlgnned nature that the people are given to
understand that they must not lavish any
attentions upon her. She lives up in Fifty-tirst
street. am told. which is a very ariStOcratic |
neighborhood. and has son some 10 or II years
OF age. | have seen her when she is her.
SELF, and you could hardly believe her
the same woman you now see in the room. No
one can learn her name. and that's the reason
she is called the Mystery. She comes from
Bucks Cot lty. Pa. and there her father was
one of the leading public men, One of the |
greatest of Pennsylvania Statesmen was her |
uncle, who lavished his love and affection On |
her, attended to her education, and promoted |
her interests socially and otherwise This is !
the story hear about hef, and it is as much as
any one ever learned about this strange |
beautiful creature.
There she sat amidst a throng of women and
men, whose ch racters were far from being un-
tarnlshed, but withal the greatest respect was
paid her by those who would stoOp TO do almost
anything IN the category of crime for few
dollars.
THE DIME-SAVING FAD.
Professional people on the stage are generally
peculiar and as is their wont in the business
they are forever springing new things on the
public in everyday life. One of the latest ideas
which has broken out among the prosperous
players is the saving of dimes and pennies. |
The swear off, as it were. spending dime at
any time. and if purchase should only cost
that amount the crank rellgiouslv sinks it into
his change pocket and breaks bill rather than ,
break his resolution. The bank where the !
dimes are deposited is an automatic institution
which locks itself securely after the first ten
cent piece is dropped in the slot. When loo pieces
have accumulated then the miniature safe
unlocks and the savings are LAID away to be ,
Joined to another collection soon. 1t is both
useful and entertaining, and the scheme is
well worth the trying by many of those people ,
who would go home broke if they possessed
single coin.
the FaunterOy Company, is the most sedulous
saver in New York, and many funny story is
told on him. A year or 50 ago he and his COM
pany were in Chicago. Mr. SNYDER had occa-
sion to 60 over on the Nortbside. but found
he was without any change, excepting
several dimes. He asked his charm
him with a "case.n She handed him silver
dollar, and he got on the horse car. and ten
dered the coin as fare. The conductor dropped
it into his capacious pocket and handed Matt
his change. composed of nine l0cent pieces
and nickel. 1t of those cold
windy days when Old Boreas makes Lake ,
hlcnlgan senQ over NnlCagOa large quantity OF f,
frozen ozone. Nj. Snyder was chilled some
what and to prevent any pulmonary trouble
or chilly disposition. be dropped into gIIded
shop where these preveutives are dispensed
at Is cents dispense.
AN EMBARRASSING FIX.
He called for the beverage and had helped
the glass to a very stiff ''swig." when the
thought struck him that he had moth
ing but dimes and one nickel to pay
for it. He with characteristic mimicry
feigned sudden sickness, and made 1
several wry faces to carry out his scheme
Pushing the glass back, he shook his head sig
and rushed out of the place. leaving
the white-coated proprietor amazed He never
stopped until he landed at the hotel, where his
fair partner supplied him with some more n
change to satisfy his desire =
Mr.. Snyder's bank at present contains some :
thing like Sl40now, and at the end of the season =
perhaps he Will have saved 500, with which he
Will buy horse and cart for his two Young :,
daughters to drive along the beach at ''the | !
Branch" Charlie Matthews, Jack Morgan and
many other professional people are in the same
business and they all say it is superior to any
banking institution OF larger proportions or /
,apital stock. q
The town has been freer of Pittsburgers than :
usual the past week, and vet not a turn could
make on Broadway that wouldn't run across
Ome of them. About the st. James many of
hem hang out also at the Fifth Avenue and |
he Hoffman. Some of the faces which are
amiliar to me include Sheriff McCandless
florence c. Miller. Murray Werner Sellers
dcKee. George l. Holiday, D. l. Gillespie. G.
edward Painter B. H. L. Dabbs and wife F.
!, Smith, John Il. Ricketson Mrs. E. j Milli-
an, ]. e. E. Rumsey, ]. Painter, Jr Miss A
I. Smith, Miss Helen 5. Webster Mrs W G.
!. Keene and Miss Keene, Ed Jackman, A. W n
Iellon, Joshua Rhodes Mrs II. Sellers Nc | y
Zee. LYMAN KoINE. II