The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1893-06-24
THE HOUSE OF oeLMoNlco.
ITS Progress from Little Coffee Room
to = World Famous Restaurant.

to y World Famous Restaurant.
Who has not heard Of "Delmonico's,"
New York; No name IL more familiar to
epicures than Delmonico, and yet few peo-
pie know anything about the original Del
monicO's of whom there were three broth
ers-John, Lorenzo and Pierre. The real
founder Of the name was John, the young
sst and most energetic OF the three. He
was the first who came TO New York, and
he sent out for the other two. John orig.
lnally began his career as "A trader between
IIayre and Havana. He made a little
money and came TO New York, dreaming,
probably, AZ little Of his future success as
did A. r. Stewart when he first landed
from Ireland.
John started little bakery and did
fairly well--so well that he thought that
with the aid OF his brothers he could do
better. So he wrote to his elder brothers
to come over the Atlantic. This was quite
a venturesome journey, especially for two
Swiss peasant lads, for such they were.
But they had faith in John, in fortune and
In each other, so over they came-by sail
ship, OF course.
The irst Delmonico building was a com
bined bakery, bar, coffee room and restau-
rant. The bakery was run upon the 'pOn
honor plan recently adopted at some lunch
counters in New York; that is, no watch
was kept on customers, who helped them
selves TO pies, tarts, turnovers and cakes,
and their word was taken as to the amount
they consumed. The coffee was always
good and the meals we'll cooked and served,
and the prices were reasonable. A cup OF
fresh coffee and some delicious rolls and
butter could be had for a shilling, and
outlet only cost shilling more. regular
dinner, with wine, could be enjoyed. with
fine service, for dollar-fully equal to
three dollar Delmonico dinner now. A
good Havana cigar cost but four cents
| such as costs twenty today
The house Of Delmonico prospered from
the first, and by an by a second generation
came on the carpet and took part in the
thriving concern. John, the founder Of
the house, took life easily toward the end,
! doing the marketing only, while his broth
ers played dominoes and smoked ciga-
rettes. None Of the Delmonicos, either the
brothers, nephews or descendants, have
been educated men. The original Del
mouicos were decidedly uncu!,Ired. They
spoke, in the latter part Of their lives,
three languages-English, French and
Italian-but all three imperiectly. Nor
were any of the Delmonicos good business
men, in the American sense of that term.
This may seem strange, considering their
success, but it is Il fact. None of them
were keen or shrewd None of them drove
bargains.
They attended strictly to one line OF du-
ties, treated everybody well, sold good ar
ticles and 80 got rich, and their fame as
restaurateurs filled not only New York,
not only America, but Europe. 1t is not
generally known, but old timers will still
remember that the Delmonicos once kept
a summer garden in what is now East New
York. Attached to this garden was vege-
table and dairy farm which was free to the
guests = pleasant privilege IN warm
weather. There were various attractions,
such as a band of music and tenpin
alley. There was also an open space for
target shooting and for athletic games
these were the happy days before baseball.
This Delmonico summer garden was a
great resort for all the foreign residents in
New York, particularly on Sundays, when
all the German. French, Italian and Span
ish notables could be seen here enjoying
Observation-Disclosures Cor. Troy Times,