The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-05-17
ExT0RTI0N AT CHICAGO.
Sample Charges at the Restaurants on
the Worlds Fair Grounds.

Colonel Fred ID. Mussey contributes
some spicy letters to the Commercial Ga
zette, and the present condition of the
Worlds Fair, and points Of interest to al
who are planning visit to Chicago. He
sounds note OF warning to the EXPOSE
ton managers in the matter OF extortion
ate charges, and cites the following in
stances noted in the restaurants of Jack.
son park:
A word or two further in regard to the
restaurant prices. In the White Hart
Inn, where you are served by English
barmaids, with Titian-tinted hair, real OF
so, the gentle maiden mulcts you for
thirty cents for ten-cent bottle OF Chi
cago beer, fifty cents for milk punch,
and bottle of Hinglish hale costs the
same. A gentleman complained that for
slice Of roast beef and bottle Of beer
he was charged slips, and the bill was
finally reduced to ST.. At the same time
another gentleman was charged by diff
ferent waiter, seventy-five cents for the
same order. The managers, when APP
pealed to in any of the restaurants, state
that their walters are knocking down on
them, and they will soon have the whole
matter satisfactorily arranged. In the
Casino, with three hundred walters, there
is no check system, the walters making
the collections themselves.
In the French restaurant ten cents ex-
ira is charged for the use of the plate,
table, knife and fork, SO that luncheon
consisting of roast beef, ST.; potatoes, 20
cents; coffee, 10 cents; and use OF plate,
10 cents, figures up to $3.50. 1t was no
better luncheon than could be procured
at Cincinnati lunch counter for beef, 25
cents; coffee, 10 cents potatoes, 10 cents;
total As cents, with no charge for using
the counter or tables or the cold plate.
In this same cafe, which is in the manu-
turers and liberal arts building, beer is
20 cents bottle, baked beans 40 cents,
no cold meats under so cents, and always
the l0-cent charge for the use of the
things. You are also expected to tip the
obsequious garcon.
These are few specimen facts. They
might be added to no end, but they are
sufficient to show that at present the sit
uation in regard to feeding the people in
the grounds is scandalous. Its effect is
seen in the actions of the people in car
rying their luncheon with them or pur-
chasing it just outside the grounds. Here
the outside vendors have ''caught on" to
thesituation, and loudly advise the visit
ors to purchase their food at live and let
live rates before entering. Sandwiches
&c each, pie sc piece, doughnuts, but
tered BISCUITS, buns, rolls, ETC., three for
a nickel, etc., and trim little luncheon
baskets or boxes, containing plenty for
two, 40c.
Since publicity is being given to these
inside extortions this business has sprung
suddenly to large proportions, and people
take in their luncheons who are amply
able to pay inside prices, but, in Anglo
Saxon spirit, object to being imposed
upon, or, as the true Chicago man would
put it, "picked for sucker"
1t is probable that the managers will
get some sense into their heads in this
connection presently, and the sooner
they take action to reform this evil which
will, as it Is investigated as has been
done by the writer and given out TO the
world, work inestimable harm to the
great enterprise, the better.
AS it is, commissioners from various
States have telegraphed their people adj
vising them to keep away from here for
the present because Of the things fully
set forth and in detail in this letter, in
Guiding the unfinished and incomplete
Of the fair.
1t is believed that all OF these things
will be Strengthened out soon; at least, it
is sincerely hoped they will be, for such
matters, Insignificant as they may appear,
are really OF much consequence in set
Ting the question Of financial success.
At present it is advisable for all visitors
OF saving disposition, or who resent ex-
tortion in large or small ways, TO take
with them into the grounds luncheons
and camp stools.-Lexington Leader.