The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01
An inexpensive Luncheon.

They were talking together Of the re-
Gently popular hfty-cent luncheons and
ffty-cent dinners. the Woman of Small
Means. and the Man Of the House, ana
the Friend Of the Family.
"My greatest achievement said the
Woman of Small Means. with modest
pride. was when / had a luncheon Tor
three people for ninety cents
you mean ninety cents apiece said
the Friend Of the Family.
mo. ninety cents for all three
Did you give them pork and beans2'
oueried the Man of the House, with an
attempt at popularity.
mo. / gave them five courses, eX-
elusive Of the coffee and creme de menthe,
at the end
The Man of the House is a gentleman,
and he suppressed a half-uttered whistle
and instantly Unidentified himself for IT.
"Oh, come nOwl" he said. Ole has the
easy contempt most men feel for women's
financial estimates) "You may have spent
only nitety cents in direct outlay, but
you didn't count the things you already
had in the house"
YES. / counted every one" insisted
the Woman Of Small Means.
The Man of Bhe House said no more,
but his cOuntenance proclaimed incredu-
lily in loud tones.
"Teu us how you did It," said the
Friend Of the Family.
1.-THE bill Of fare was bouillon, oyster
pates. chops and potatoes a la Duchesse.
salad. crackers and cheese. grape fruit
with rum and sugar, coffee, and creme
de menthe."
A smothered ejaculation from the Man
Of the House. The Woman of Small
Means turned her back upon him and
addressed herself to the Friend Of the
Family.
"Of course" she said, alphabetically,
at had TO plan for my luncheon in order
~ GET IL at that price If l had gone
ont and bought everything without con-
sideration. the expense would have been
much more. As it was the actual cost
of the food really did not exceed ninety
cents.
.Take the bouillon, for instance. l
bought a twenty-five-cent can. That holds
enough 10 fill five Of my bouillon cups
l had used two cupfuls the day before
so / estimated the cost Of the three cups
served at luncheon as fifteen cents.
ct was the same way with the oysters
I had planned oyster soup for my dinner,
and had bought a quart of oysters for
thirty cents j flched "A dozen oysters
and a gill of the liquor from the supply
for the soup, and had quite enough with
the sauce 10 fiji the three pate shells l
had bought for ten cents a. the French
bakers. l allowed eight cents for the
oysters. seven for the gill of milk, the
one egg and the bit Of butter used in
preparing them.
MY economical genius had been at
work in the purchase Of the meat also
/ had bought q fore quarter of lamb at
tvyelve cents a Mound You know this
includes the shoulder for roasting, the
neck and breast for stewing. and the
chops. Three Of these weighed less than
a pound. The tiny Duchesse loaves OF
potatoes took only a cupful of mashed
potato and you pay six cents quart
for old potatoes. SO my third course
did not cost more than thirteen cents.
"a head of lettuce was five cents;
Neufchatel cheese-we didn't eat half
of II. and had the rest for dinner-was
five cents more.
'The grape fruit--big ones-were three
for a quarter. and we had half one
apiece. and there was teaspoonful OF
rum in each. Call II fifteen cents.
80 you see" jotting down figures on
the back Of a card. the first course was
fifteen cents the second twenty-five;
the third. thirteen: the fourth, ten; the
fifth, fifteen. That makes total OF
seventy-cight cents. Twelve cents Will
cover the three small cups OF coffee, the
tiny portions Of creme de menthe-l used
cordial glasses. and they were filled with
fce-the bread butter, oil. vinegar, etc.
That is how II was DONE" she said, with
a. glance OF triumph over her shoulder
towards the Man OF the House.-F'rom
Harpers Bazaar.