The morning call., 1891-09-04
IN A 15-CENTER.
Things to Be Seen Any Day in Certain
Restaurants.

Things to Be Seen Any Day in Certain
Restaurants.
A correspondent of the Woman's Column
thus describes scene frequent in certain
places in San Francisco:
A long, loW-celed room, grimmed with
the smoke of years from the kitchen, just
behind the easy-swinging door, one of these
bearing plenty Of marks TO show where the
impatient foot of the heavily laden waiter
has kicked it open TO admit of his passing;
a curtained, gas-lighted alcove, over which
are the words Ladies' Dining-room." A
vision of shirt-sleeved men, with hats on,
cigarettes aud pipes in their mouths; the
clatter of dishes, this tread of quick feet over
the uneven floor, a general confusion and
hustle and ciamOr of voices that all but
deafens the unaccuStomed ears that hear 1t
for the first time. What does it all meanP
Merely that laboring San francisco Is TAX
ing its lunch mewhere below Third street
and south Of Market Let us pass through
the long, low apartment where, at little oil
cloth-cOvered tables, sit probably hundred
men, looking over the greasy dailies, divid-
ing attention between these and their rolls,
coffee and cigarettes.
We will enter the Ladies' Dining room,"
where, out of Difference 20 the feminine
patrons, the oil-cloth covering the tables is
white instead of brown, and strip OF mat
ting covers the floor between the rows oil
tables.
Sit down here at one Of the corner tables
that commands view OF both rooms.
There are only these two places left, for IL
is few minutes past noon end the place is
full. A number in the outside room are
even standing leaning against the wall wait
ing their turns at the tables. This is a 10
cent place; you can get chop, steak, outlet
or fried ham, with tea or coffee, bread and
Mi Ind FOR Z Re
Should you prefer cold meat to hot, you can
have a cut from the ham or roast In the
kitchen for the same price. IL you are a
sybarite and desire eggs with your ham, the
feast will cost you % cents, and they Will
turn" your eggs without extra charge.
II you cannot afford % cents, or even 10,
you can get some Observation-Disclosures and tea,
coffee or milk for 10 cents, or Pie or cake, IL
you have no honest appetite for bread and
butter.
The small room is full Of girls; scarcely
an old lace among them. There is the little
twelve-year-old from the artificial flower
makers, who brings some bread ana butter
and pays cents for glass OF milk to help
1t down. Atyouder table Is group Of four
girls from the printing Office up the street !;
they chaff the waiter, and order c0ffee and
huge slices OF pufy-o0king cake and have
great larks over their banquet. Across are
two hands" from nearby factory, Ger
mans, evidently, luxuriating in sensible
rye-bread and coffee, getting the full worth
of their dimes of this nourishing fare. Next
them are fosr more girls, whose pinched
faces, cheap finery and general reckless air
tell their sad story more loudly than could
words. At another table note one of an
other group. She sits where she can see
into the next room, and has, all uninten-
tionally, one may honestly believe, attracted
| the attention of a fairly dressed, bold
| looking young fellow, just outside the cur
tain. She looks up, catches his eye. looks
away IN confusion: He ,gazeS steadily
Her color comes and goes; her companions
notice it They are older and keener
"Get on to Jeh's mash." says one and by
every gesture and motion the young sconn.
| drel outside sees he has attracted some at