Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-13
SENATORIAL LUNCHsONs.
Glimpse at a Capitol Restaurant and Its
Patrons.

"a nice piece OF cold lamb for Senator
German, and be quick about it,
This order delivered improssivcly by
colored gentleman with q white apron ana
a pcrspiring brow, was sufficient notice
to the men who stood q the counter IN
the Senate restaurant one day this week
that the senior senator from Maryland was
about 10 eat his luncheon. \ correspon-
dent Of the New York Times. who heard
the command and saw the subsequent
departure from the CarVcrS tam" OF
plate of cold meat and anoth>r Of DIe1u'
was moved TO ask a few questions rela-
tive to senatorial appeti'cs.
Senator German almost invariablN cans
for cold lamb when h" takes seat IN
the inner chamber Of the restaurant
which is set apart for senator's ana th"I
friends So well known Is his ionnh"S5
for lamb that a cold Joint Is never mss,
ing from the Senate larder. ram bitah
and butter is about the only accountant
mcnt which hnds favor with the senator;
lie never drinks liquor, and Il mol We'l4'"
To the use OF ten or coffee. ,,.
Those who maintain that a man
characteristics bear "a close rcldlloh ~
the food ne eats may now turn ti'H ~
tention 10 cold lamb. \ great many r"u
pie have been unable thus FAR 10 allaIlI'
Mr. German 10 their satisfaction. lie IL
unquestionably cold. In moments Of great
proy0catiou when others would rum" anu
fret and permit their collars 10 dlSSniN''
he is cool and scif-pOs u. Even Wuth
e,on IN in SUMMER, hi ..- tic-like exterior
does not desert him. vi no can say tlat
the fact that he adorcS cold lalnb may hot
Toe all-impoTtant To persons VINO lhN'1d
upon discovering the cause oil an e''c''
Mr.. German is not the only plain liver
In the Senate chamber. MI nm docs not
MONIES His daily luncheon is more apt 10
consist Of eggs on toast with a cup OF
tea. or bread and milk, or something
equally simple than any Of the tempting
dishes which Restauratcur Page prides
himself upOn. Nh Hln produces me I'M
preston upon one who sits a table VITA
him that he hegrudges the time ne ae-
votes to his stomach. "Ilc eats simply ne
cause he has to-" said "A senator the other
dav. who was ridiculiug his lack Of appre-
citation of a well-seryed luncheon.
Senator Murphy is long remove from
his colleague in the matter Of providing
for the inner man. The gastronomes or
the Senate have discovered that he l. or
them. although not always with them. lie
loves "goo4 living, 10 use the ,accTI s'.u
term. and occasionally INDUCES in dishes
Whi.h confirm the restaurant walters III
the belief. induced when they first saw his
face. that he is good judge or cookery.
Ordinarily. Mr. Murphy eats a plain
luncheon and refreshcs himself aftcrWard
with a strong cigar.
The two New York senators generally
sit together at luncheon. The day before
Mr.. Murphy departed cor Saratoga they
had A corner Of one OF the inner rooms
TO themselves. and were plainly more
interested in the topic they were discuss
ing than I'm their food Mr.. llill was max
ing a pretcnSc of eating soup, nut MS
Sp0Ou was Oftcncr waving In the air, CIV
ing point. rs II were. to his remarks,
than performing its true junction. no
body who saw them with their heads
together doubted that the programme car
ried out later at Saratoga was the subject
Of discussion
Mr. Page. who presides over the senate
restaurant. is authority Tor Inc statement
that there are but few senators whose
tastes are difficult to cater TO. II Woul
be- strange IT, after nine years service
Mr. Page had not achieved reputation
for certain dishes. Good Judges oi teiId-
Uin say that II tlOuriShcs IN all II" glory
I'm the Senate restaurant. Mon nave brch
known TO go far out OF their way IN
ORDER 10 get a dish Of the chicken PIE;
which IS one of the specidlties INTRODUCED
IN the Page regime. Strang" a. IL may
appear 10 some. the venerable MT. hoar.
of Massachusetts. is an expert Judge OF
tcrrauiu Even the senator's from me
terrapin-producing regions detcr 70 hs
opinion The Delaware senators 40 H"l
venture TO discuss teIIailh Whch -hI' iioa'
Is about.
Did YOU ever eat dcviled-ham2 Not the
sO-called deviled-ham Of picnic falne' but
the genuine Washington article. ASH sell
l.
tor Blackburn. of Kentucky, ana they WI,
tell YOU that tbs one place in tho word
10 got true deVilcd ham Is DOWN IN Ue
ha spment Of the Senate wing OF The Capl-
toll. II would DE folly 10 attempt 10 de-
scribe the process Of preparing II. Nheh
IL comes. smoking hot, TO the table, Il mas
the proper proportion OF mustaId 20 MAKE
II "peSpery' and. according to the TWO
senators just mentioned an lhdescIloapie
flavor. ,,.. ,,.,,.
liquor at luncheon. The seductive cocktail
Is patronized to some extent ana DC
casionally cold bottle Is opened III
honor of some constituent whose good
opinion IL sought. Beer is consumer III
/ liberal quantities. In the old days ac-
cording TO a tradition. drinking VAS much
I more common among Senators thah ~ -
/ now There is a rule which SAYS mat
/ Uduor shall not be sold within the pre-
/ cincts of the Capitol, but II IL not en-
! forced. and probably never Will be, Sehd-
! tors were among the first TO break IL
Several years ago, when the RUE was
/ comparatively new, western senator
who had just delivered n fatiguing speech.
sent down TO the restaurant Tor grass
| OF brandy.
! There's none on hand" was the mes
| sage forwarded to him.
| but | must have some" he declared.
| After a short period OF indecision the
proprietor of the restaurant sent out for
! A bottle of cognac. Since that time
brandy has been kept in stock.
The Committee on Rules of the Senate
! maintains general supervision OF the
| Senate restaurant. IL regulates the prices
, and makes the conditions TO which the
| restaurant keeper must subscribe. Cap
! ito habitues who patronize II do not
! generally know that there was a time
| when only Senators and Representatives
were permitted to secure their meals
in the building. Prior To lSj6 there was
( but one eating place in the Capitol. 1t
bore the attractive title Of The Hole in
the WALL" and was situated beneath the
rotunda. The kitchen was in the base
D. ment. near the present quarters Of the
Architect of the Capitol. The name was
very appropriate. for the space was small
and the accommodations far from good.
When the Senate and House wings were
/ built, restaurants were authorized 10 bo
operated In both. The House restaurant
Is controlled 10y the House Committee on
| Public Buildings and Grounds