The evening times., 1898-01-20
MlLLIONAIRES' CHEAP NEAL
Four GOthamites Worth $3l, 000, 600
Dined for 90 Cents.
D. o. Mills, DIR. DeEew, Mrs. Burke
Roche and Miss Johnston at the
"Poor Mans Waldorf"

New York, Jan. 20.-One hundred
and fifty-two men and two ladies dined
at a Bleecker street eating house az
noon yesterday. The aggregate wealth
Of $50 of the guests net $50
and the estimated wealth of the other
four persons is S31, 200, 900. The wealthy
four were d. o. Mills, DIR. Chauncey NJ.
Depew, Mrs. Burke Roche, and Miss
Josephine Johnston. The dinner was
served in Mills House. No 1. which one
of the diners at yesterdays luncheon
has built for INDECENT men and has
termed the Poor Mans Waldorf"
For many weeks DIR. Chauncey NJ.
Depew, whose dinner and luncheon en-
Gagments are probably more numerous
than any other mans in Greater New
York, and far exceed the accumulated
engagements of the other $50 men who
ate with him yesterday, has been anX-
iOus TO inspect Mr.. Mills new hotel.
So great was his desire TO investigate
the fare and surroundings of the
guests OF the new institution that he
went down a week ago to lunch with
Mr.. Mills there. but 20 his great dis
appointment the multi-milliOnaire fall
ed to keep his engagement.
The two milliOnaireS met again a
few evenings ago at Mr.. Mills resi-
dence and new engagement was
made. including Mrs. Burke Roche.
who was Miss Fanny WOrke, and Miss
Josephine Johnston, a well-known
New York society lady. Yesterday at
IL o'clock was set for the dinner hour
1t was a merry party, and the gay
chatter and laughter Of the members
attracted no little attention among the
hundred or more regular habitues OF
the place, to whom the problems Of life
form a subject too serious for meTri-
ment. even at lunch time. DIR. Depew
was especially happy.
Under Mr. MilTs guidance the party
repaired directly to dining-rOOrn mo.
L., where $50 men had gathered to-
gether from all parts of the country.
A wide ripple of conversation spread
along the tables when DIR. Depew's ia
miliar cOuntenance appeared Eight
out of every ten OF them knew Mr.. De-
pew by sight or through the widely
distributed pictures Of him.
II wish he would give me a pass back
to Buffalo," said a man who had been
trying for weeks to find the writer OF
an advertisement that lured him to
New York under promise Of a job al
a theatrical agent.
He amt like the man who couldn't
do it, put in an old Albany politician,
"and he amt like the man who would
MT. either. Manys the favor he did me-
in my time"
There were no hors d'Ouvres or hui
tres on the bill of fare. 1t was a ser
vice chaud," however. and the various
courses came on piping hot.
DR.. Depew ate his soup with a relish
as il il was green turtle or birds nests
at 50 a plate The beef he declared.
nj he I'D hfz
tions of vegetables as if they were the
daintiest mOrseIs at hotel mans ban
quet table For dessert Mr.. Mills, Mrs
Roche and DIT. Depew chose apple sauce.
Miss Johnston selected Indian pud-
ding All of them declared themselves
delighted with Mr.. Mills bill of fare.
Then they arose and walked over tc
the cashiers desk
How much do we Owe2'' asked DR..
Depew. pulling out a roll of crisp green
backs.
THE bill is s5 cents, said Ir. Mills
in great glee.
'.Whewt" whistIed DIR. Depew mildly,
producing a dollar.
'.Oh. no." said Mr.. Mills. you are my
guests today, and / viii pay the bill"
Then the party went on a tour of the
house. DR.. Depew and the ladies were
delighted with everything.
Il never saw such kitchen. ex-
claimed Mrs. Burke-R Roche. 1t is aS
clean as the dining-rOOm-
On the way out the party met citizen
George Francis Train. who IS waiting
at the Mills House for the flowers to
bloom in Madison Square again Mr.
Mills nodded 10 Citizen Train and intro
duced the ladies' Mrs. BuTke-Rocle
offered to shake hands with the Cit-
zen. but in accordance with his inVar-
liable custom he declined, adding apOl-
ogetiCally:
Permit me. madame. TO rather give
YOU a cavaliers salute / have not
shaken hands with anyone for twenty
years. Can you say as much. DepeW
Dr. Depew admitted that he c7lidn '
and didn't want to.