The times., 1898-11-13
OLD BILL poNT1N.
The Peculiar Principles on Which
He Ran Chop House.
Nrom the New York Herald.l

From the New York Herald.)
| William S. Pontin is dead. Many per-
sons who started for his famous chop
house in Franklin Street yesterday for
their midday meal found The place clos
\ ed and Were compelled to turn away
| Old "Biil Pontin. as he was famii-
iarly known 10 two generations of din
| ers, had many reculiarities which had
/ become accentuated in his old age. He
| did not believe in deserts, and II was a
| very unusual thing for him to have any
sweet on his bill of fare. Roast beef.
! steaks and chops were the staples that
! he served. and his regular customers
were iirmiy convinced that none could
prepare them as well as he.
| He had been brought up in the busi-
! ness. His father had come from England
as a young man, and opened restaurant
or free and easy" In White Street
| Here "Bill,' with his two brothers, Fred
er!ck and Arthur, and his Two pretty sis
ters was reared. After the rush OF the
meal hours was over one of the girls oft
en- sat down at the piano 10 entertain the
patrons. while "Bill'' sang with a mag
nificent voice that remained true and
er his frame. "BilF' finally took place
In Benson alley. near Franklin Street
which was soon known throughout the
dry goods district
One OF the theories to which Pontin
chung was that II was well to make his
prices so high that merchants could take
their luncheons in his place with a rea-
sonabie assurance that they would not
meet their clerks. If he charged n, little
more than other restaurant keepers for
his roast beef, he allowed his customers
to send their plates back for additional
portions until they satisfied their hun
.ty;,x as-,r
Pontin was not a believer in Croton
water as a beverage with hearty meals.
A prominent judge used 10 tell story
of 'BiilS' emphatic ard persistent rv-
fusal to give him glass OF water with
his roast beef, on the ground that he
should take q more suitable drink.
A rival chop-house was started near
Pontins by man named Ifopcraft- Al
though competitors the two men main
tanned the most friendly relations.
Every morning when Pontin started FOR
market he stopped al Hoperaft's and
bought two drinks. one for his COM
petitor the other for himself Every
evening Hopcraft went to Pontin's and
returned the compliment. For some
years the two men used the same QUAR-
ter, which changed hands twice day.
and which Pontin finally framed when
the march of improvements wiped out
Hopcraft's place. Pontin himself had to
move, but he went scarcely block from
his original stand.
He had never served 4 demi-tasse of
coffee untn A. II. Hummel, who ate reg
ularly in his place for more than thirty
years. insisted upon getting one after
each meal
The fame of Pontin's roast beef was 50
great that many prominent foreigners
have called on him to sample it almost
Immediately after arrival here. Lord
Vaudeville and Lord Lonsdale were fire.
quent patrons when they were in New
York
The back room" at Pontia's was made
famous by the wits who gathered there.
II was an extension built for the accom-
modation of a few select customers. It
has been said that any question that
would arise could be authori.atively set
tied offhand in the 'backrOom.'' The
habitutes knew everybody. and some one
of them was sure to be INFORMED upon
anything. from politics TO racing and lit
erature.
George ]. Gould. who often ate lunch
con in the chop house. took a fancy to
the old man, and frequently sent him
fruit from his country place.
Pontin was about seventy-three years
old. He was married twice. He leaves a
widow and a young son.