Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-14
ECONOMY AT THE TABLE
Dr. Atkinson's Dinner for Twelve, Which
Cost Only 1888.
An Effort to Follow His Example and
the Cost of the Raw
Materials.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Dr. Edward Atkinson was recently among
US and made feast. II was at the home
Of Assistant Secretary Curtis Of the treas
ury The feast had purpose and moral.
1t was to teach a lesson in economy. And
as ones who should Of all men take lessons
in economy and profit thereby DR.. Edward
Atkinson invited to dine with him sundry
officials of high degree and their wives.
Among these guests at DR.. Atkinson's econ
omy dinner were Secretaries Gresham, Car
Isle and Morton. Dr. Atkinson prepared
the repast with his own economy-teaeh!ns
hands. and fed twelve people. He said it,
all told, cost him exactly S2.Ss. That is one
of the cabinet folk told me DR.. Atkinson SO
asserted. ! did not see the doctor person
ally. When called On him at his MOTEL and
forwarded my card to his room he sent ms
regrets, and said he was dressing for din
ner-not an : tkinson dinner-but hotel
dinner.
Fooled IN my attempts to meet and talk
with DIR. Atkinson and crave his secret
from his own lips, I returned to my cabinet
friend. l asked him to go, item by item,
over the bill of fare. If dinners to twelve
could be handled on basis OF S@.~S, ana
every demand Of gourmand be met, pro-
posed to become sociable and go into dinner
giving to some extent, at least. The cabi-
net man looked dubious. but said he could
them in their order, or as they should be
marshaled on the menu, but he was sure
he would not name dish which had not
appeared This is the bill of fare which he
of the cabinet gave:
Chowder: Goldfish,
Pork and Beans,
Roast Lamb,
Asparagus,
Green Peas.
Chicken FricaSSee,
Boiled Ham,
Salad-IIettuce and Tomatoes,
Bread Pudding with Plums,
Boston Brown Bread and Butter,
Coffee.
rbis sounded ali right 1 resolved on a
dinner at once. Nor would l trust It's de-
tails to my wife. Women have noe that
business turn absolutely needed when one
embarks on any scheme of scientific coon
omy. 1 would not cock the dinner. but I
would at least buy the raw material l
would follow the worthy doctor as far as
could
Following His Example.
My first duty was to see some experienced
person to learn the amounts and quantities
proper for my tables equipment. l would
follow Dr. AS bill Of fare, and I would
bid twelve people of mediocre appetites
to he present and eat, drink and be merry.
NV wife was consulted as to the market
ing. But her advice was rejected. The sug-
gestions she made as to the number or
pounds and pecks and dozens We're mad
dening. A bright thought struck me. I
would consult the steward Of the hotel
honored with the patronage of DR.. Atkin-
son.
barred doors. The steward said, after
reading DIR. Atkinson's bill of fare, that to
produce a banquet on those lines for
dozen people would cost as original In
yestment at least SIS. He said that he
didn't figure in this estimate the lights.
fuel and the wear and tear on ones con-
science. Less than SIS worth would not
found anything more than mere snack
for twelve guests. I left the steward end