The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-12-01

One ~ the Causes ~ the nigh nespccta-
biiity of That Restaurant.


bility of That Restaurant.
An undertaking rule " Drlmonicos res
taurant is that no refreshment will be fur
nshed IN private room TO a man aud wo-
man. no matter who they are In the life
time Of the late Charles Delmonico August
Belmont and his wife went there to dine.
"Can we have private roomf" asked
Mr.. Belmont
"will there be any othcrs'' inquired Mr.
Delmonico.
mo" said Mr.. Belmont.
"Then you cannot have the private
ROOM was the reply.
Mr.. DelmonicD had known Mr. Belmont
10 years, and Mrs. Belmont was equally
well known to him. But there was the
rule. He would break it for no one.
Another Delmonico rule forbids loud talk
ing or profanity not only In the dining
room, but anywhere. No matter how noisy
or tipsy man be, he dare make no noise in
Delmonicos. 1t IL very seldom that a row
occurs, and when It does It is 'squelched"
so quickly and speedily that no annoyance
il caused.
But to New Workers. there Is one terror
above all others which Mr.. Delmonico holds
over the men about town. 1t is his black
list--the list of men who, having violated
some of the rules, are in utter darkness so
far as this place is concerned. The result is
that, though the place may be full of New
York's noisiest youths, they don't do any
yelling there. The reason is this, to be on
the black list means, to the heavy swell,
that he cannot meet his friends there or be
served. no matter who gives the orders.
This is very easily done. At Delmonicos
every New Yorker belonging to certain
set is presumed to be "A gentleman. Should
one of these make bill which after a rea-
sonable time he would not pay-mind the
words used were would not'--he is put on
the black list. This means absolute ostra-
cism from the one place every New York
swell and about every gentleman visitor
wants to enter almost every evening.
When Fred May, who went once.to fight a
duel with James Gordon Bennett, received
notice that he was on the Delmonico black
list for throwing decanter through great
mirror he at first laughed scornfully.
When he experienced its effects, he talked
largely about fight. Yet his name re-
manned among those shut out for nine
months, and he was not again admitted
among the elite until his sister came home
from Europe and interceded in his behalf.
The methods of the black list are cruelty
simple, but mighty effective. The offender
receives polite note from Mr.. Delmonico
generally in his own handwriting, inform
ing him that thenceforth the services of the
Delmonico establishment are not at hi.
disposal. But it is a public house, and any
well behaved person has a right to enter
So one might think. Suppose you try il
lust to see how the black list scheme works
invite man thus tabooed into Delmon
jco's. He has received his notice, but yot
of course cannot know it, for it is not
thing man is proud of. You two sea
yourselves at a table A waiter comes for
ward, and you order, say, two glasses o
sherry.
The man returns with the glass and on
portion of the topaz hued fluid, which h
places before you, but none for the othe
man. Ask him what it means. He, witt
seeming innocence, will reply that h
thought 'ze othair gentleman did no
drink" Just look at your companion. Hi
face is perfectly white with shame and an
ger He says quickly: ''Yes, dear boy,
don't drink now, you know. Swore OF
lately, you know" He dare not say he
blacklisted.
But there are other places open to hin
you may think. True, but if he is ma
about town to be unable to invite an az
quaintance from another city, for instance
to Delmonico's means a downfall, and if b
is a society man the result is a very seriou
matter.-New York Letter in Washingto
pnat