The morning call., 1893-01-25
1T STUMPS THEM.
Chicago Wrestling With
"Cafe."
On the Definition of the Word Rests
an Important Concession to the
California Commission.

Do you know what 'cafe" is-wth the
accent on the "fe?"
This imposing pathological problem is
being wrested with by the Ways and Means
Committee of the Chicago Worlds Fair
Directors. and the California Worlds Fair
Commission is very much interested in their
solution. On their construction Of the
word depends the sale of California wines
in the California building during the fair.
and consequent source Of revenue to the
State fund.
Some time ago the State Commission re-
ceived concession for the maintenance of
"cafe" in the California building and the
sale OF California wines therein, the Expo
siton Directors to take % per cent Of the
net receipts. The Worlds Fair Commits
sion has seen to it that it gets liberal per
centage of every nickel that will be spen:
in the Worlds Fair grounds.
A short time afterward the Chicago
hustler who secured the exclusive restau-
rant privileges of the grounds ran aeross
this cafe and proceeded to make a fuss
about it. The directors scratched their
heads for few days over the Question oil
what could be properly dispensed in a cafe.
and then decided that 1t should be Limited
to coffee, douRhnuts, sugared prelZels aud
few such elements Of a hasty "SnacE.
When the prompt protest came the prob
lem was referred to the committee named,
where ii yet rests.
Meanwhile the California commissioners
are exercising their persuasive powers ia
behalf of a liberal construction OF the term,
1t is Of Importance, because, unless a Cali
fornian can invite his old neighbor from
Kalamazoo to the cafe and order a rOas
duck from the kankakee marshes and
bottle of California sauteTne, the consump-
ton of California wines at the fair viii be
greatly decreased and their merits will lose
great deal of advertising. Then the Cali
fornia commission will lose its revenue
from a second tax on the net receipts.
The concession for cafe has been
granted and the question is now one OF
definition. How nearly may cafe fulfill
the functions of rotisserie? The rotl Is
the dividing point first suggested, but on
which side Of the roast Is the kidney saute,
the wis de veau pique a la pompsdour." or
the supreme de volatile sur cronstade Ia
perigueuX ?"
All the Chicago Columbian philologlsts
need do is to look in the Century dictionary
There they will find the following explicit
definition:
housed 1-Cofee. ga coffes-houst; q
restaurant.
A house restaurant
Well, the practical world offers as hope
less a chance of solution. If tie American
usage is sought and adopted the California
eOuDoisseurs might rup most anything un-
der the name. Here In San Francisco. for
instance. one cafe" serves whisky sGur>,
cigars. oysters and billiard balls anu has a
Ladies entrance" annex.
Then there is the "yitcultural cafe" es-
ta5lished in connection with the State With
cultural Commission that Californias wines
may be sampled. Il offers bill of fare as
complete as almost any restaurant So with
scores of Gates all over America.
Some are eotfee-houses pure and simple,
some add ham and eggs to their hoteakeS
and bakers products and some offer steaks
and put in a stock OF wines and bottled beer
If California wins the privilege of porter
house steaks and coTkserews every native
son Will know where to invite his Eastern
cousins, but il the Golden State is restricted
TO green tea, ham sandwiches and fapjackS
we may as we'll fill the ''eafe" with big
sQuashes and picked pears and drink miB-
eral water at penny glass.
A Chicago definition OF "eaie' is expected
in few days.