Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-21
had an air of Indifference to patrons

had an air of Indifference to a patrons
wishes.
If the food had been better and the lit
tie compartment heater. patronage would
nave been greater and the expenses of
running the place not Increased in the
least. But the man who kept it was sat
I ished with the degree of profit he made
and had no ambition to improve the quail
ity OF his customers. So the restaurant
remained as untdy and neglected as il
had always been and there were no signs
of a change. Occasionally there were
murmurs of discomfort, when circum-
stances compelled one of the residents of
the rather wealthy suburban community
about the town to drink the weak coffee
or eat the stale sandwiches. But these
protests would have amounted to moth
ing had not large stakeholder in the
road been once compelled to undergo this
experience. From that time the restau
rant Keeper was doomed. 1t became
/ known that he was to go; and the event
corresponded exactly with the ideas Of the
two young women. They wanted to keep
The railroad restaurant, saw chances of
a good income out of it and the opportu-
nifty of living in the country. The infiu-
ence of friends got them the lease of the
restaurant before its first incumbent re-
tired suilenly, with many mutterings con
corning the rich who tried to take bread
and butter out of the mouth OF the poor,
TO make way for them.
If anybody ever meets with an ideal
railroad restaurant in neighboring state,
il will in all probability be this one. for a
SttOHt never existed tne oil the part
ners, recently married at the end of their
third year of business but her associate
carries it on as successfully as ever
They began by making the place neat.
which was the least expensive of Their
improvements. although none OF these
made their way of conducting the place
any more costly than their predecessors
had been. Two maids in appropriate
dress supplanted the slovenly men for
merly in attendance. All of the pastries
came from the home of one of the two
women where cook was engaged for a
certain time every day preparing the ar
ton to bread. this included the cold
meats. The articles prepared on the small
stove in the restaurant We're only those
that required to be served Immediately.
The table service was scrupuously clean
and the glass enclosure of the restaurant
was shiny in its polish.
me increase in business was immediate.
During the first month the gain was g
per cent. and 1T the end of a year five
times as much business rs the preceding
proprietor had ever known was coming to
these two enterprising young women. one
OF them was always in the restaurant
during the day time 1t closed at D. clock
in the evening. ana in the early evening
hours one of the maids took charge OF
the business. The two women found that
they could support themselves well on
their profits. The railroad people were
delighted at the redemption of the place
thereby exhibiting an unsupported regard
iOr the comfort Of their patrons. As if
every difilcuity was to be removed from
their path. the former proprietor of the
place opened Il restaurant across he way
and succeeded in attracting to il lust the
class Of patronage which made them fear
ful Of their ability to make a success Of
the scheme. With these rougher GUS
toners out Of the way, the more desir-
able and profitable class We're willing to
patroniZe what had formerly been
stunned by them.