The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-13
DELMoNlco's BLACK LIST.
One of the Causes Of the High Respects
biiIty of That Restaurant.

One of the Causes of the High Respeota-
billty of That Restaurant.
An undertaking rule Of Delmonicos res
taurant is that no refreshment will be fur
nished in a private room to man and 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 a private roomr asked
Mr.. Belmont.
"Will there be any othersi" inquired Mr..
Delmonico.
mo" said Mr.. Belmont.
"Then you cannot have the private
ROOM was the reply.
Mr. Delmonico had known Mr.. Belmont
40 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 a man be, he dare make no noise in
/ Demonico's. 1t is very seldom that row
occurs, and when it does it is "squelched"
| so quickly and speedily that no annoyance
| is 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
Nork'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 Delmonico's
every New Yorker belonging to u certain
set is presumed to be gentleman Should
ne of these make bill which after a rea.
enable 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 a great
mirror, he ut first laughed scornfully.
When he experienced its effects, lac talked
largely about fight. Yet his name re.
manned among those shut out for nine
months, ard 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 a polite note from Mr.. Delmonico
generally IL his own handwriting, inform
ing him that thenceCorth the services of the
Delmonico establishment are not at hi,
disposal But it is public house, and any
well behaved person has right to enter
So one might think Suppose you try il
Just to see how the black list scheme works
Invite man thus tabooed into Delmon
icOs. He has received his notice, but yol
of course cannot know it, for it is not
thing a man is proud of. You two sea
yourselves at n 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 b
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 i
blacklisted.
But there are other places open to him
, you may think. True, but if he is ma
about town to be unable to invite an aC
quantance from another city, for instance
to Demonico's means downfall, and if h
is u society man the result is a very seriou
matter.-New York Letter in Washington
Post.