The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-01
EATING DINNER MECHANICALLY
The Walter Does Everything But Swallow
tho Food and Drink.

EATING DINNER MECHANICALLY
The Walter Does Everything hut Swallow
tho Food aud drink.
On 4 recent evening big man with a
heavy walk entered a well known cafe
on upper Broadway and sank YEARLY
into a chair at a table. He was about
fifty years old and had the appearance
of high liver. His face had the pecu-
liar purplish-red color which is some
times ascribed to burgundy and some
times to champagne. but is always due
to ndulgencc of the appetite for good
things His movements Indicated that
he felt sluggish, and it would have Gre
ated no surprise in the observer to have
been told that he was liable to apo
plexy. lie seemed preoccupied. and
glanced listlcssly about the room
Presently a waiter came up to him He
was bout the same age as the man at
the ia BILE, but was quick and active
Good morning, Mr.. JONES'" he said,
briskly. I'VE have some nice turtle
soup and some excellent roast grouse"
''All right, James," said the other,
abse n t-minde dly.
''Some potatoes chateau and a lettuce
salad?''
Yes"
The waiter went away and returned
presently with some illustrated papers,
which the man took from him without
much as looking up. The soup was
brought on and ladled out by the wait
CIR, who then took the napkin and
spread it carefully over the mans lap
He brought on q glass of sherry, al
though the man had said nothing about
it, and set it down beside his plate.
The man did not notice it, but began to
eat his soup grcedily.
You are forgetting your sherry, sir, "
said the waiter, respectfully
Mechanically the diner reached out
- VI
waiter watched him carefully
mother does her child, filled the glass
of water when it was empty. replaced
the napkin when it slipped down, and
in other ways saw to it that the diner
was com forta BILE. The soup was fol-
lowed by the roast, potatoes, and some
celery. The latter had not en-
dered, either. The grouse was carved
by the waiter, who also served the po-
tatoes and picked out the tender pieces
of celery.
"Do you want your champagne, sir?'
he asked.
what champagnc?' demanded the
diner, querulously.
"YOu have a half bottle left from last
night, sir
'Bring it on, them
The waiter returned with a half
empty bottle. A rubber cork tightly
pressed into the mouth had preserved
the sparkle through Jne remainder
of the meal the waiter never relaxed
his vvatchfulncss, although he had to
wait on two other tables. When the
diner had finished his coffee he started
&c ; ;;sc Ths waiter, who happened to
be at another able, ..ssy4. q, ilo s,tofs s@he-
wait a moment, Mr.. JONES'" he said;
''you must take your pcpsin-''
''Thcn why the deuce don't you bring
it?''
CT
In a moment he had rushed out of
the room and returned speedily with
bottle andsSpOon. He MIXED up a dose
in a glass and handed it to the man.
who drank it with wry face. Then
the waiter brought finger bowl and a
cigar, of which he cut off the end. lie
waited until the man had slowly put it
between his lips and then he struck
match and applied the light The man
puffed slowly that the match had
burned down to the walters fingers
and scorchcd them before the cigar was
thoroughly lighted. The waiter now
helped, the man with his overcoat,
adjusted his silk mufHcr, buttoned up
the coat and handed him his cane.
'tiood night, Mr. JONES'" said the
waiter, as the man toddlcd away. An
indstinct mum bling was the only re-
ply.
The head waiter explained. That
here for fifteen years and always has
the same waiter. He's II grouty man,
but not bad hearted He's chronic
dyspeptic, but YOU see he won't deny
himself much. You noticed he didn't
tip the waiter7 That's because he pays
him once a week and generously. He
pays his meal checks the same way.
The waiter knows his habits absolute
ly, and, you saw. does not require
any orders. He knows that he wants
certain things always, and understands
his tastes we'll enough to be able to
suggest a satisfactory menu every time
! have an idea the old fellow will re-
mem Der his waiter in his will. He
gives him lots of presents. as we'll he
might, for the waiter does about every
thing except eat and drink for him.
n. Y. Sun
THE MILLiONAIRES' MALADY.
A NJ 81 tai Disease Whic r. the Outgrowth
OF the Possession of Great Wealth..
iS to mi haf