Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-10-03
OLD TOM TYSON.
The Buttered Toast Autoerat and His Ia
nous Manchester Restaurant.

The Buttered Toast Autoerat and His Ia
nous Manchester Restaurant.
The most famous hot buttered tonst
house In the world was Tyson's rcstau-
rant in Rock street, Manchester, which
still flourishcs, but no longer is animated
by the crisp individuality Of its founder,
old Tom Tyson, as he was known. Tyson
was a born autocrat, who knew that in
their heart of hearts Britons, for all their
rule Britannia sentiments. like 10 he slave
driven. So he established restaurant
wherein he, an inflexible autocrat, might
enforce laws of his own making and win
riches by this very enforcement He pro
vidcd only chops, steaks and Cumberland
ham and served with them, instead OF yegc-
tables, hot buttered toast or bread. Most
of his customers took toast. To people
who asked for potatoes 1t was sarcastically
remarked that they should have brought
their own. Every one who ate at Tyson's
was compelled also TO drink Ale stout,
coffee and ten were the liquids A Gus
toner asking for water was referred to tho
'tectotal shop next door.
A host of good stories are told of Tyson
He dominated the place In his shirt sleeves,
and nothing escaped his vigilant eye. His
duty Ia the customer. ms he conceived IL,
was done when good food had been laid
promptly before him. After that the GUS
toner's duty to the master of the restau-
rant began. Reading was not permitted,
at least in the middle of the day, nor
grumbling, nor protractcd sitting, nor
smoking. Tyson's strength was the excel
lence OF his wares, his chcapness and his
businesslikc dispatch, and, knowing this,
he played the tyrant to the top of his bent
A young man once calling, Waiter, bring
me a steak mt once, - was amazed to find n
raw steak clappcd on the table before him.
To his expression of disgust came the re
ply, You can't expect meat To be cooked
II YOU want il at once" Another customer
had the temerity To complain that his
steak was tough. A considerable space of
time elapsed before he came again, but
Tyson, who forgot nothing, was waiting
for him. The grumblcr called for a steak.
Steaks are tough, " was the reply. Then
Ill have chop Chops are tough. p"
Then what can i have:' Nothing. II
you can't be satisfied with food that pleases
other people, you can go somewhere else. "
4 customer daring so much as TO glance
ut Il letter from his pocket was CURLY in
formed that this is not "a library" a
customer who had exceeded his welcome
was hidden TO go. To the few who COM
planned Of incivility Tyson's reply was that
he served his civility with his chops and
steaks Tyson's as it now is has under
gone notifications, but the toast tradition
holds good. Both in Manchester and in
the London establishment hot buttcrcd
toast is always ready. There is room for
more toasthouscs. Who knows but that
the establishment Of "a good toasthousC
might not restore the days of wit. In
course Of time, If the toasthouse became a:
notable as Wills coffee house Of old, an
other John Dryden or DR. johnson might
be forthcoming TO dominate it, and we
need another DIR. johnson. The occasion,
it has been said, produces the man.-Corn
hill Magazine.