The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17
A PARTISAN INSTITUTION
A Concern That Owns and Control.
Fifty Huge Restaurants.

In order to appreciate the fuss which the
newspapers are making here about the
marriage of NJ. Alexandra Duval, it is
necessary to realize the fact thai the bride
groom-elect is the director and chief pro-
prietor of that Partisan institution known
as 'les Bouilloas Duval," which in the
last twenty years has become a striking
feature of metropolitan life here. LES
Bouillons Duval' are a concern that owns
and controls some fifty huge restaurants,
situated in different parts of the capital
where the best aud, above all, the cleanest
food Is served at the lowest prices. 1t is
estimated that nearly 10000 people are
daily fed at these eaing-houses of NJ.
Duval, and heaven only knows how many
more OF the pauper class of the population
derive their sustenance from the broken
gictuals that are distributed every evening
to the poor by his orders.
What is so especially attractive about
these "Bouillons Duvals' is the excellent
quality of the food, the rapidity and cour-
tesy OF the service performed by natty-
looking "bonnes," and the exquisite clean
liness that characterizes everything and
everybody in connection with the place.
The prices are low, and it is difficult to
understand how the Duvals-father and
son-can have realized such an enormous
fortune from the business. Thus you pay
l cent for a napkin, 2 cents for bread, 5
cents for bowl of most nutritious and de-
GciOus bouillon made from tirst-claSs meat
dish of meat garnlshed with vege-
tables costs 10 cents; plain but we'll
cooked dessert cents; cheese, either Brie
or Camem bert, cents, and pint bottle of
win ordinaire" s cents. If you tip the
waitress her whole face lights UP with
pleasure, as she is not accustomed to "pour
boires." The white marble tables on which
you are served are carefully sponged for
each new guest, tablecloths being es-
chewed, but snowy napkins are furnished
to every body who wants them at the price
above mentioned. And as low as these
prices are, they would be cheaper by 40 OF
90 per cent were it not for the octroi OF
municipal customs department, which
charges heavy duty upon everg article
of food that enters the 'enceinte' of the
city of Paris.
about the "Bouilious Duval" is the eIe-
gance OF the premises. They are invari-
ably large, lofty, we'll lighted, well ven
lated and rendered attractive by large
mirrors, gilded cornices and beautiful mo-
sale panels, the walls and floors being
constructed almost entirely of marble in
clear. dainty colors, conveying an indie
scrlbable idea of freshness and cleanliness
Indeed, these popular restaurants present
striking contrast to the dingy, low
ceilinged, badly lighted premises of tbs
Cafe Anglais, Maison Dore, the CAT,
Richie, Brebant, Vois;n and other famou:
temples OF gastronomy.
1t would be mistake to imagine thai
only people of humble means anu position
take their meals at the ''Bouillons Duval
Women of rank and elegance may occa
slonally be seen lunching there, as we'll a
the banker or tinancier who wishes for hi
bite In hurry, the uitra-exouisite club
man who Is on his way from one railwa,
terminus to another, the scientist who ha
been consulting ancient volumes all,