The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-26

this class. Even the destitute and depraved
seem to feel that there is a certain i'm
propriety in calling for free victuals at a
place where a square meal is offered for
cents. 1t would seem that they prefer to
beg the nickel and pay for their meals like
honest folks. The manager kindly goes into
the details of his economies to anyone who
has the curiosity to ask about the workings
of the place. He tells at what surprisingly
low prices he gets his meat and vegetables
by purchasing them in large quantities. and
how his milk costs him only 2I2 cents a
quart. It still seemed something of a mys-
terry, however, how it is possible to fill a
hungry stomach with good food for ) cents
and leave sufficient margin of profit to
pay for rent, service and superintendent.
The manager insists, nevertheless, that he
is building up modest little bank account,
and he likes to tell how the cashier of his
bank came one day to see what sort of a
meal he could get, and has been coming
ever since regularly for his lunch. 1t seems
to me that this institution is a very re-
markable and beneficent charity. and I
commend 1t TO the attention of people en-
gagged in benevolent work in Chicago as
worthy of their study and imitation.
Now let us so to the other end Of the
social scale. AT the Fifth-avenue entrance
to Central Park stands three tall and ele-
giant hotels, which are of the very highest
rank in New York and are patronized by
wealthy and fashionable people. | am not
wealthy or fashionable, but ] am stopping
with my wife at one of these hotels having
a fancy to see how the world lives in all
grades of the social scale. We have a little
room on the seventh floor with one window.
and with barely space enough for the es-
sential bedroom furniture 1t has two
closets, however, and in one of these is a
stationary washstand The outlook over
the park is really superb, and is probably
taken into account in fixing the tariff for
the room. On the door there is a printed
card which states that the price of this
room, with board for two, is $11.50 a day:
for one person, $3.50; for two persons with
out board, Sc a day. and for one person
without board, Sc a day. Now, remember
that this is a small ard cheap room. I
am told that If man and his wife want to
live somewhat elegantly they will have no
trouble at all in paying $50 day az either
of these hotels facing the park. Now, IS a
day for my little room amounts to $3.50 a
year, and, mind you, the room has only one
window and makes no sort of pretense to
luxury. You get the luxury. however, when
you descend to the lower floors of the hotel
and find that you pay. not for your little
room, but for the beautiful parlors. the
comfortable lounging and writing rooms,
the army of Well-trained servants ALWAYS
ready TO attend your slightest wants, and
all expecting a tip: the really good oil
paintings the walls by first-rate French
artists and the general air of quiet, dignity
and eXclusiveness which pervades the whole
place. When the landlord tells me that he
pays $500. 600 year rent for the hotel and
that he has over three hundred servants, [
am not disposed to complain about the Sc a
day for the little room with the one win
dow. I really wonder how he can make
both ends meet.
The restaurants at these upper class no.
tells have prices which appal an economical
man from the West A dish of strawber-
are 80 cents; for few stalks of asparagus
they charge rs cents; any sort of a steak
will cost you from $3.50 to $3.50 and the only
merit you see in the whole scheme is that
two can eat for exactly the same price
one. I am glad TO note. however. that the
custom Of half portions is coming in, but
this is of no use to ladies' for it is applied
only in the cafes where the bachelors re-
sort. 1t is very difficult in one of these fine
restaurants to figure out any kind of a full
meal for less than 50. and then it will con-
sist of very plain dishes Still if you have
the money to spare there is a certain sense
of satisfaction in feeling that you are
getting absolutely the very best food
cooked in the very best way which this
great metropolis of contrasted luxury and
poverty can possibly afford. and then it
may add to your sense of Importance TO
realize that the great Vanderbilt lives Just
across the way. and that the other Wander
bits are only just a square or two down
Fifth avenue to get a glimpse of the house
of the great Mr.. Huntington. and to realize
that the great Mr.. Rockefeller actually be-
longs to the club which inhabits the great
white marble structure just across the ave-
nue. For all these satisfactions you must,
of course pay and to some people they are
we'll worth paying for Yet probably the
poor man who goes away with his munger
satisfied at the five-cent eating house down
on the Bowery is about as happy as the
millionaire who has disbursed $40 for
small dinner at one of these great Fifth
avenue hotels.