The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-11
DElMoNlco's BLACK LIST.
One OF the Causes Of the High Respects.
bility Of That Restaurant.

billty Of That Restaurant.
/ An undertaking rule Of Delmonico's res
taurant L. that no refresbmcnt will be fur
nlshed in private room to a man and wo-
man, no matter VINO they are. In the life
time Of the late Charles Delmonco August
Belmont and his wife went there to dine.
Can we have a private rooms" asked
Mr.. Belmont
"Will there be any others'" inquired Mr..
Delmonjco.
NO said Mr.. Belmont
"Ihen you cannot have the private
room, was the reply.
MIR Delmonico had known Mr.. Belmont
% years, and Mrs Belmont was equally
well known to him. But there was the
rule. lie would break it for no one
Another DeimouiCo rule forbids loud talk
ing or profanity not only in the dining
room, but anywhere. No matter Low noisy
or upsy a man bc, hc dare make no noise in
Delwunico's. j. IS very seldom that a row
occurs and when 70 does % is 'squelched"
so quickly ana spoudIly that no annoyance
is caused.
But to New Yorte.s there IS one terror
above all Of hers which Air DcimUnico holds
over the men about town. It Is his black
list-the list Of mpu who, having violated
some Of the rules. are ia after darkness so
far as this place is conc clrne1. The result is
that, though the place may be fun Of New
YogA's noi,iest youths. they don't do any
yelling there The ietson is this, to be on
the black l.st means. to the heavy swell,
that bc cannot meet his friends there or be
served, no matter who gives the orders
This is very easily done. At Delnonico's
every New Yorker belonging TO n certain
set is presumed to be II gentleman Should
q of al. ~ Z ltt+hf f,t, ,,ff
sonable time he would not pay-mind the
words used were would not''--he is put on
the black list This means absolute ostra-
csm 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
duel with James Gordon Bennett, received
notice that he was on the Delmonico black
list for throwing a decanter through great
mirror, he at first laughed scornfully.
When he experienced its effects, he talked
largely about n fight. Yet his name re-
mained 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.
k'h'idlig III MS oNl hdhuNTltlilk,
ing him that thenCeforth the services OF the
Delmonico establishment are not at his
disposal. But it is public house. and any
well behaved person has right to enter.
So one might think. Suppose you try 1t
just TO see how the black list scheme works.
Invite "a man thus tabooed into Delmon-
ico's. He has received his notice, but you
of course cannot know it, for it is not a
thing man is proud Of You two seat
yourselves at n table. \ waiter comes for
ward, and you order, say, two glasses of
sherry.
The man returns with the glass and one
portion of the topaz hued fluid, which he
places before you, but none for the other
man. Ask him what it means. He, with
seeming innocence, will reply that lie
thought "ze othair gentleman did not
drink" just look at your companion. His
face is perfectly white with shame and an
ger. He says quickly: YES, dear boy, j
don't drink now, you know. Swore of
lately, you know" He dare not say he is
black listed.
But there nre other rlaces open to him.
you n,ay think. True, but if he is man
about town 10 be unable to invite an nc
quaintancc from another city, for instance,
to Drlmonicn's means IA downfall. aud If he
Isl society man the result il n very serious
matter-New lorl. Letter in Washington
Post.