The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-12
LUNCH AT TaB PENSION OFFICE.
Curious Noontine Scenes in a Town o f
1000 Inhabitants.
From the Washington Star.

FROM me washington btOf.
1t is as good as a play to visit the pension
Office at lunch time. Entering the building
as the noon hour approaches one might
easily imagine oneself in the public square
of town. In the middle a fountain plays
and & newsboy with a bundle of papers
under his arm slouches about, offering the
Washington and New York dailies. People
stroll by singly or in couples. both women
and men, the latter mostly with their hats
on. Some are going in one direction and
some in another, but all are buSily absorbed
in thought or conversation.
On one side Of the plaza is a shop kept by
Gen. Washington's nearest living relative,
who is himself so close u likeness to the
father of his country as TO have excited
murmurs of establishment from all the
crowned heads Of EuroDe. Following the
example of the renowned Prince of Bohe-
mia, celebrated in tho story OF the Suicide
Club and other truthful tales, this gentle
man has taken to selling tobacco In his latter
DAYS. Here and there on the pavement OF
the square women are laying long tables
covered with snowy cloths and set
with many dishes clean to
the eve and touch though tough to
break. Hurry agitates their feet and hands,
for presently the gong will sound for 1890
O'Clock and the little town of more than
2. O01 inhabitants under one roof will take
thirty minutes rest from toll for the noon
tide meal Soon the moment arrives, and
Immediately the public place becomes
thronged with people coming from every
quarter. A buzz Of conversation fills the
air, while the newcomers flock about the
tables on which the viands have been
spread and help themselves or are helped to
Al. h. Of ia 9uff1-
GENTLY varied. Besides sandwiches, pies,
coffee and buttered biscuits, there are pud-
dlngs. ice cream, raspberries. red and black /;
ruddy cherries cakes and various fancy
things. Near the east door wagons IN
load boxes filed with pint bottles OF
milk. Lunch is cheap enough for pension
employees. Five cents for pint of milk Is
not dear, and a nickle will buy pretty much
anything else, from a plate of ice cream to
couple of bananas. There are not large
profits for the vendors, but the latter have
no losses. Most of their customers run bi-
weekly accounts, and, If they do not pay.
rep TT is made to the division chief and the
delinquent is ma 10 to ante u.
| Rather more than one-third of the en-
Moves take their luncheon after this fashion
| in the building. Another third, chiefly
women, bring their mid>day refreshments
with them from home, while the rest 20
out to small eating houses and diaries in the
neighborhood, or patronize resorts where
the mild stimulation of beer may be en-
loved. At best a half hour is but
brief moment for the consolation of
the inner man, and at the end Of 1t
the busy townsfolk flock in all direc-
lions from the square to their offices In
the building about the quadrangle. The
vendors of food and goodies pack up their
appurtenances and themselves disappear,
leaving the place of the fountain well nigh
deserted for the time being save for the
lounging newsboy, to whom may perchance
remain ono OF two papers of his stock. Gen.
Washington redivivus gazes over his to-
bacco counter reflectingly chewing quid
of his own preferred brand and meditates
like Xerxes on the perishing OF time, OF
events and OF men-even of those who draw
pensions, alasl