Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
LUNCH AT THE PENSION OFFICE
Curious Noontime scenes In . Town OF a.ooo
InhabttautA

Sorous Meantime Scenea In o Town Of 2. 1000
InhabitautA
IT Is AS GOOD AS A PLAY 10 VISIT THE
= pension once a lunch time. Entering the
building as the noon hour approaches one
might easily imagine oneself in the public
square OF town. In the middle fountain
plays and . nswsboy with q bundle Of
Papen under his arm slouches about,
Offering the Washington and New York dailies
People stroll BY singly or in couples. both
women and mon, the latter mostly with their
hats on Some are going in one direction and
some N another, but all are busily absorbed in
thought or conversation.
On one side of the plaza 10 shop kept by
Gen. wsshington's nearest living relative.
who Is himself so close Q likeness 10 the father
Of his country as to have excited murmurs Of
astonishment from all the crowned heads Of
Europe. Following the example OF the
renowned Prince Of Bohemia. cele-
brated in the story Of the "suicide
club" and other truthful tales. this gentle man
has taken to selling tobacco in his later days.
Here and there on the pavements Of the square
women are laying long tables covered with
snowy cloths and set with many dishes
clean to the eye and touch though tough to
break. Hurry agitates their feet and hands
Tor presently the gong will sound for half-past
~ o clock and the little town of more than
2,oOo Inhabitants under one roof will take
thirty minutes rest from toll for the noon
tido meal Soon the moment arrives. aud
Immediately the public place becomes thronged
with people coming from every quarter. 4
puzz OF conversation fills tue air, while the new
corners nock about the tables on which the
viands have been spread and help themselves
or are helped TO what they want. The
bill OF fare is sufficiently varied Besides sand
witches, pies, coffee and buttered biscuits there
are buildings, ice cream, raspberries, red and
piack; ruddy cherries, cakes and various fancy
load boxes illed with pint bottles Of
mix Lunch is cheap enough for pen
SION employees. Five cents for a pint of milk
Is not dear. and nickel will buy pretty much
anything else. from plate Of ice cream 10 a
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.
ana. II they do not pay, report is made TO the
division chief and the delinquent is made TO
ante up.
Rather more than one-third of the employees
take their luncheon after this fashion in the
building: Another third, chiefly women, bring
their midday refreshments with them from
home, while the rest 20 out 20
small eating houses and diaries in the
mel or patronize resorts where
the mild stimulation of beer may
be enjoyed. At best a half hour is but q brief
moment FOR the consolation of the inner man,
and at the end of il the busy townsfolk hock in
All directions from the square 20 their Offices
In the buildings about the quadrangle. The
vendors Of food and goodies pack up their sp-
Purtenances and themselves disappear, lefv-
ing the place Of the fountain well
nigh deserted for the time being save
for the lounging newsboy, TO whom may pe--
chance remain one or two papers of his stock
Gen. Washington redivivus gazes over his 90
6acco counter rehectingly chewing a quid of
his own preferred brand and meditates like
Aerxes on the perishing of time. Of events and
OF men-even Of those who draw pensions,
alas!