The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31


.,ar ,ha diners NJ S,lzina's and now and
then a leaf flutters down and settlea gentiy
In the soup or favorN the spaghetti WIN q
decorative touch. The tables are on the
little stone pavement that runs around the
flower bed and OH the platform that Suzina
has had built by the back fence,
But it is doubtful if you can find place
ut one OF these tables unless you present
yourself before half-past 9, and it is certain
that you won't find place unless you are
we'll known to Suziia or ne OF her minlons'
ar have friends who are.
For-this exposure must be whispered
Suzna doesn't pay 81 200 a year, or any
other sum, for the privilege OF proV'dlhH
ordindire with a dinner that costs the
feaster ~ cents. including the wine. She
could never 10 it, Likewise, her patrons
could never do without the ord!oar',
Yet il would be loss 70 the town II
Suzna'f were no more She knows it,
30 every night she has stern sentine! at
the basement door.
The house il merely one Of many non
commtta high-stoop brownstones not
far from the French quarter. There is no
sign outside It would he useless to try
to find it unless you have a special tip
If you have the latter you ring the base
ment bell, and the door swings open
This does not mean. however. that you
have made good your entrance 70 Suzina 5.
A very small, but very resomte figure bars
your way and pair Of very keen eyes are
looking up at you. 1t is for you to speak
MAY have my dinner here''
II you've made a good first impression
you hear the words. Please wait minute.
coming from somewhere near your knees.
1t is the voice Of a slip OF a girl You wait
In the dingy basement hall, rather enjoying
the novel sensation OF soliciting the prlvi-
lege Of patronizing New York restaurant
Almost imm ediatcly Suzina herself
emerges from the kitchen, buxom creature
with a white apron suspended from an ample
waist A pair Of scrutinizing eyes like the
little girls are fixed upon you. In all hum
bleness you again make your request
.Haf you any friends who come here.
Monsieur"
Suzina shrugs her shoulders and smiles
epologetically.
i am very sorry, Monsieur. but we have
none but r. regular customer"
The humiliation of it! You are not Of
the bohemian elect. You've actually been
turned down. or rather again turned up
up lHt DtSSIlclI StcI anu ouI INV u
Philistine world.
But mention familiar name TO Suzina.
"Ah, you know re doctair? Yes, yes.
Come in, Monsieur. He ISIS not yet here,
but will be at o'clock. You sit at his
table, yes?'
You follow your hostess through the
back hall into the kitchen, an immaculate
kitchen, with glowing range. and through
the kitchen into the back yard. where you
take a seat at one of the snowy little tables
beside the flower bed and beneath the young
leaves.
This is delightful, but it is not all. You
are among poets.
The facI that they are poets is indicated
by the deep gaze they turn upon the soup
wind the spaghetti around their forks.
Artists are here; their independent hair
and flowing ties proclaim them.
On every hand are girls-vivacious girls
who are out for little lark. and show by
pleased futter that they think, they are
partahing of the forbidden: solemn girls
who are artistic, and feel that 1t is a serious
matter; elderly girls, who have grown
portly on tables d hote.
They all turn az you make your entrance
and perceiving at once your distinction of
bearing, wonder what you've written or
what you've painted. Bows and smiles
are being constantly tossed about the back
yard.
above the subdued cha ter and clatter
the voice OF somebody summoning waiter.
always by the first name and always with
an accent that is French or Italian. or at
have practised an accent you don't raise
your voice at Suzina's. But II you have
the accent you naturally work it hard.
The shadows of night come softly over
plate. upon which you have been eXer-
ciang your wrist muscles, grows dim.
Bright eyes that you haven't been able to
refrain from occasionally glancing into
under the spell Of twilight out here in the
yard become merged in the gloom, Faces
fade away in the darkness. Lights begin to
glow in the rows of windows that look
down.
1t Is now that the candles are brought out.
Not long age, impelied by me a , Spit oo od
reflector nailed to the fence. But her
patrons didn't care for progress. 10 she
has reverted to the candles.
Some Of those who come every night have
little boxes with glass sides for their candles.
The majo rity. however, are we'll content
with Just common candlelight that fickers
IN tho gentle breeze and throws odd shadows
onthe Intellectual countenances Of the diners
as they linger over thcir coffee. talking elo
quent1y or smoking dleamily.
All, this coffee and cigarette time at
Suzina's! The trials OF the meal itself
have all been forgotten The unreality
OF the mgnt is on tne YARD ana ltS guests.
II il time to think up new poems. The
laughter Of the girls is musical and mo-
mentarily the fair, Madonna-like face
that has drawn you 80 glows in the dark
ness from the light of her cigarette and
then goes back into the shadows, more
alluring, II possible, than before.
All is calm and soothing here on May
evening. There are no songs no speeches
or any hilarious Brooklyn or Harlem
bohemians, who are bohemians so seldom
that they feel themselves obliged to make
q noise about It. They would be co m
pletely out of this back yard picture.
So dignihed is its tone that only rarely
docs any one become illuminated" here
although for this the mild virtue Of the
ordinaire deserves some credit. II you
should rec anybody in the yard with what
may be termed "still" on, you may be sure
that he has come in from wilder scenes
and you will notice that he bears himself
discreetly, like a man of culture.
An elderly gentleman entered late on a
recent Saturday evening and after period
OF meditation at a table by himself arose
and announced politely that he was Rame-
ses II. 1t was not with any undue pride
that he disclosed his real identity but merely
for tho purpose OF meeting any and all
corners In a debate on the doctrine OF rein
oarnation.