New-York tribune., 1904-09-25
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
aS-Oubles Of a Cafe Manager-His
Need of Tact.

One Of the best known cafe proprietors in the
Borough Hall district is frequently seen eating
beef and beans and "sinkers" IN an all-night
'beanery' after his cafe closes AZ o'clock in the
morning. One Of his friends thinking it strange
that man who could order his own chef to cook
him anything that might tickle his palate should
so outside expressed his surprise 10 the cafe pro
prietor recently. The latter replied:
II don't eat my own food probably for the same
reason that confectioner does not eat his own
candy. Surrounded by my business and constantly
blinking of its details as am in my own care. l
Here in another restaurant where the worries
not mine ] can sit down quietly and get more
The most elaborate creation OF my own chef
That cafe proprietors have their troubles is
pretty well known. Near place that caters 10
only the best trade is q theatre that caters TO the
70 ana B cent crowds The horde OF bosterous
young boys who patronizs the cheap shows dis
covered early IN the season that in the cafe re-
ferred TO q somewhat elaborate free lunch Is
served every night. Among the things spread on
the tables are ishballs which a feature Of ths
place. and sandwiches. Every night between the
acts crowd OF noisy youths swarms into the cafe.
Seven eight viii line up against the bar and
squsnder five cents apiece on beer. but by far the
greater number steer directly for the free lunch
table. When they get through it looks If
devastating and half starved army had struck It.
Not content with eating what they can. not a few
of the bold marauders take away a supply to last
them during the next acts. Some OF them viii
rush ma6ly in, circle by the lunch table, grab a
handful OF nshballs.. and pass downstairs to
the lavatory. In a minute two they win come
up again. skirt around the provision centre deftly
slip sandwich two into the pocket not already
bulging with hshballs. and then beat it for the
door. TO one of their slang phrases This
happens every night and costs the proprietor many
dollars. One OF the managers was asked why he
didn't maze some attempt 10 stop the imposition
''wen." he replied. ''you see If 1 made any move
against these people there would be trouble per-
haps fight. and that, Of all things the proprietor
OF cafe seeks 10 avoid. II We said anything TO
them they would declare they We're just about to
buy drink. and probably would But the next
tng it down This is one Of the things that We
s @ u pys ne ' & 81 any gra5n s9ane qGh ~ oi5 TfhsG S
al right IL it wasn't for that Iow-Driced theatre
near by"
That st IS wiser for the manager OF a first class
restaurant to suffer much rather than cause a
disturbance illustrated not long ago in an
other part OF the borough. in a typical German
restaurant much patronized by good families on
account Of the excellent table d'hote dinner. as
wei as the attractive music. One Sunday night
when the tables were all full one was occupied by
a man who had taken 3ust enough wine to be mild
" yplsyfui. BE was accompanied by two women and
sn an attempt 70 amuse them he began 10 sprinkle
tsbasco sauce on q small fern in q jardiniere on
tie table. ANY manager with the slightest bit Of
tact could have humored the man into stopping his
q
temper ans no tact. he stalked over to the
table and. IN voice that startled al the other
diners and attracted their attention. shouted:
What do you mean, sir. by acting in that way?
no gentleman would DO that. I want you TO know
those zerns cost 60 cents apiecei"
The playful man made cuiet reply when
the manager suddenly shouted IN loud tones:
You've got 10 get cut OF here at oncei"
Then he ordered the walters not TO serve any
thing more 20 the party. who had got 10 further
lhEn tnS nsh course. There wasn't the slightest
indication that the playful man TO nlSlZe
any trouble. but be told the waiter he would pay
Tor Only the portion Of the dinner he had had.
The manager storEned around and allowed every
body IN the dining room 10 understand that he
antenesd making the man pay for three full din
7e-s- TIE party were exceedingly quiet and de-
Abera1e IN getting on their things and the man
was looking for trouble, and martiaIled three or
four husky walters al the door. Then he stalked
10 the desk and, with the eres OF every diner
On him. took ugly looking pistol out OF draw
er and showed Il In his pocket Cold shivers be-
gan 70 go up and down the women diners by this
tina and lasted while the playful went TO
the desk and paid the fun bill without a word.
The manager, however, continued 10 abuse him
and everybody expected II 10 bring on a fight. but
f.naIy the party got away. and everybody breathed
a sigh OF relief As a result Of that episode. the
restaurant lost scores of steady patrons A COM
ron manager could have avoided IL all anli
II 5o-cent fern had been burned by tabasco
saUcs would have gladly stood the loss rather than
cause trouble