The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LUNCHES
A Novel System or Collecting Pay from
EntiuE.h ouse Patrons.

EAtinE-bouse Patrons.
During that breathing spell between noon and
p NJ, when downtown business mon Danish
for the moment the rush and competitions OF
trade. and start outdoors after some refresh
ment to brace their systems for a renewed tus-
sle with the fierce torrent OF the city's tremen-
dous traIlc, there gathers in little dairy in
the Potter building. and likewise in a certain
restaurant on Broadway just below Cortlandt
street, crowd of hungry merchants and
clerks who bolt lot Of miscellaneous food in
feverish haste. and afterward bolt outdoors
into the street before the last mouthfuls OF
their several rapid-transit meals are fairly de-
voured. In hundreds OF other eating houses
down town hundreds OF other business men
and clerks similarly shoot food down their
throats with the same frantic rapidity. and
rush out with their meal half eaten, after the
great American dyspepsia. breeding fashion,
But the thing that makes those two respective
assemblaRes OF hungry business men interest
ing is tho system under which they secure
what they want 10 eat and pay for 1t when they
get through.
Long counters spread Dlentifully with all
sorts OF reasonable delioaces meet their gaze
at noon whom the hungry men first plunge into
the respective eating places. The hungry men
walk quickly along the counter until thoy SEQ
some delicacy that strikes their fancy and pro-
coed to help themselves to it without further
ado When they get It down their throats rs
fast as they can they wander 10 some other
part OF the eating house and pick out and de-
YOUR something else There are clerks and
cashiers in each resort, but they apparently
pay no heed to any OF the hungry men. Each
customer is free to go where he likes and eat
what he chooses. and ns much OF any ono thing
as he feels like consuming.
ia M taati
crowd make the assault on the delicacies. but
still more interesting TO see how each business
man squares things with tue house when he
thinks be has had enough.
In the little dairy In Nassau street the Gus;
rallies rattle. I'll what he has oaten ,
Sandwich coffee strawberry shortcake
How much"
Thirty cents. please." says the cashier. and
the customer rattles the money out on the
counter shoots out OF the door, and hur.
rles down the street like a man bent on CATCH
In the broadway restaurant the method OF
settling Is for the customer to figure out his
price lists Of the foods painted in distinct let
.ers and figures EaSh Gmsi9 HiS stbdiTi ,
wnen ne 9as s nos en- aus sds tabs Red
picks out check for the amount, The checks
are ranged in rows in little, wooden compart-
TSs customer throws this on The Cashiers
desk. pays the amount OF the check; helps him
self to u toothpick. and walks out The cashier
never questions the correctness of the check.
She tax es the customers word for it every time.
For many months the same thing has been
going on at both these eating houses. Tho
system is novelty to many New Workers. who
are accustomed 10 get Il ON restaurant walters
system is called Tile trusting to man {, hon
esty plan OF quick, lunch setvice.' and 1t has
proved so profitable that other restaurants n
The broadway restaurant was the first to in
troduce the system In this city. and IL was
copied by the proprietor Of the dairy. because
he says that he believes in the principle OF
treating his fellow man as an in erently
to Of
ing the hungry men OF Gotham claim that it
pays them we'll, and that the percentage Of
the system to cheat the house and get lot to
eat without paying for 1t is SO small that 1t is
:0ur loss from customers who knock down
on the cost Of their meals said the proprietor
OF the Nassau street dairy. " is less than three
doesn't happen more than two or three times
week. On the other hand. hardly day passes
cashier and say. / mads a mistake in my
plate Of beef. Here is ten cents that ought to
The manager OF tho Broadway quick
luncheon establishment similarly commended
this particular restaurant, while The average
number OF customers for each day runs; any
where from l.2oo to $500. the aggregate loss is
ness OF customers" said Manager Fassett,
cannot be set down as the cause OF this loss
altogether. 1t Includes the food eaten by the
help here. We have four different departments
toner honestly to forget to pick Up a check In
one department when he has visited more than
one department. as. Tor example. when he
comes into the LIQUOR department. TO got drink
after he has boon In the restaurant depart
ment. Our customers come back to us next
day in almost every case and make good the
difference. Sometimes they walk out with
checks IN their pockets. when they are think
ing OF other business matters. But they bring
these checks back aud settle on the same day
or the day afterward. | remember once re-
gently that q well-known Ex-Governor. who
had law case in court. rushed out one day
without settling. He cRme back next day and
was rather a good Joke"
Manager Fassett said that as he understood
1t the trusting-to o. q ma 's-honesty system
wasn't original in America; l have been
carried on in Scotland. and In Norway and
Sweden. The buffet quick lunch as / under-
stand 1t, was first instituted In Scotland but 1t
Is good thing: and America has taken 1t up
and is making 1t pay.