Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-19
QUEER JOB.

Philadelphia Inquirer: 1t is difficult to
believe that there is any employment
! under the sun in which only one man is
engaged. Blu an employment of such a
kind has been found, and what is still
stranger, the man so engaged crosses the
ocean oftener than any.other human be-
ing. This unparalleled record is held by
Alexander Filippini. He spends practi-
cally no time on land. frequently reach
ing port in time to sab back again on
another liner upon the same day.
Mr.. Fillipiri is known as the travelling
inspector of he American liners. It can
readily be understood that the provision
of excellent meals on steamships is a very
difficult task on account Of the small
working quarters <fo;- cooking and the
difficulty of keeping up ssupplies of varie-
ties of fresh vegetables, meat and fruit.
His work lies in overseeing and improv-
ing the service of meals on the ships.
Such large numbers of people have to be
provided for that unless q perfect system
is established, every one attending to his
duties like clockwork. the meals take an
unreasonable time and people are badly
served. For years it has been found diff
ficult to establish a uniform system in
the saloons Of the vessels. those in charge
of each vessel having different methods.
Complaints We're continually being made
by passengers. OF systematic steam
ship cooking OH a new basis. Mr.. Fillipi-
nj, who for years previously superintend-
ed at Delmonico's, was called in. He
then felt the need of an ocean voyage,
and gladly accepted the position. It at
once became evident. on his first voy-
age, that he had undertaken an enor-
nous task, so many changes would be alb
solutely necessary. The work of getting
the men to abandon old ways, was very
difficult. Mr.. Hobart, now vice president,
happened to be one Of the passengers on
his first trip. Many complaints We're
made by passengers, and Mr.. Fillipini
saw that he must show each man in the
service exactly how things must be done.
He met with great opposition and ugli-
ness at first. but his instructions We're
soon appreciated. Such a marked i'm
provement resulted as the voyage pro-
crossed that passengers. including the
present vice president, complimented him
for his work.
When the first report was turned in and
approved, full authority was given to Mr..
Fillipini, and he started out with new
courage, adopting the best ideas on each
ship. He goes on board a ship without
previous arrangement, not being expect
ed, and watches the preparation and
serving of meals. shows the cooks and
bakers essential details, sees that the ia
DLt SIC" i VI SoOu i ldI
supplies are lacking. All this has to be
reported upon. Cooks have to be kept
from carelessness and great prOmptness
is essential. Some cooks, for instance,
were apt to make sauces carelessly or ap-
ply them on meats from cans without
even warming; to waste supplies, to hold
back favorings, brandy, for instance, and
keep little supplies for themselves, while
bakers sometimes forget that bread can
be made twice as good by thorough
k%neading. Such We're the difficulties.
Then Mr.. Fillipini also studies the
classes of people travelling at various sea-
sons and prepares menus for each day
to suit the tastes of people from all parts
of the globe. For instance. he does not
forget to have roast beef for Englishmen
occasionally, sauces and steWs for
Frenchmen, Hungarian goulasch for Aus !
TRANS, wiener wursts for the Germans
and macaroni and all dressings for the
Italians, as extras, suiting the tastes Of
all nationalities, without having the bills
of fare predominant in dishes not accept
able to others. He gives. close attention
to the second and third cabins, as we'll
as to the saloon. so that, with the pre-
paration of his reports, his time is fully
occupied.
Mr.. Fillipin is n man of middle age,
with black mustache and hair, slightly
mixed with gray. Some have taken him
to be a detective. but soon learn of his
important work., for it is stated that af-
ter his first years work on shipbOard he
saved the company SIS, 900 over and above
his salary as the result of his labor.