The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-06-14
DELMoNIco's BLACK LIST.


bility of That Restaurant.
An undertaking rule of Delmoncos res.
taurant is that no refreshment will be fur
nished in u private room to "A 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 rOomf' asked
Mr.. Belmont.
"Will there be any others2' inquired Mr.
DelmoniCu.
"No,n said MIR Belmont.
"lhpu YOU cannot have the private
room was the reply.
Mr. 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 Delmouicu rule forbids loud talk
ing or profanity not only in the dining
room, but anywhere No matter how noisy
or tipsy man be, he dare make no noise in
Delmonico's 1t is very seldom that a row
occurs, and when it does it is "squelchcd'
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
York : noi,iest youths, they don't do any
yelling there. The reason is this, to he 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 a certain
set is presumed to be n gentleman. should
I a 1 4. A.
| sonable 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 n
| duel with James Gordon Bennett, received
notice that he was ON the DelmonicO black
| list for throwing n decanter through great
mirror, he at first laughed scornfully
When he experienced its effects, he talked
largely about a fight Yet his name re-
manned 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,
generally in his own handwriting, inform
ing him that thenceforth the services of the
Delmonico establishment are not at hi,
disposal. But it is a public house, and any
well behaved person has a right to enter.
So one might think. Suppose. you try it
Just to see how the black list scheme works.
Invite man thus tabooed into Delmon-
ico's. He has received his notice, but you
of course cannot know it, for it is not .
thing man is proud Of. You two seat
yourselves at n table. A 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 lie
places before you, but none for the other
man. Ask him what it means. He, with
seeming innocence, will reply that he
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,
don't drink now, you know. Swore Of
lately, you know" He dare not say he is
blacklisted.
But there are other places open to him
you may think, True, but if he is Il mar
about town to be unable to invite an &c
quaintance from another city, for instance
to Delmonico's means u downfall, and if h,
is II society man the result is IL very serious
: matter.-New York Letter in Washington
, Post.