The Washington times., 1904-07-16
TOOTHPICKS ARE A
NECESSARY EVIL
Verdict Oh Controversy
Rendered by Experts.
CANVASS OF RESTAURANTS
New York Managers Give Views--Bad
Form on Fifth Avenue, But in
Style in the Bowery.

NEW YORK, July Ito obtain pos
itive and complete information from ac-
credited sources upon the question OF
how the patrons of restaurants OF every
class in New York regard the toothplck.
a canvass was made yesterday OF the
principal ones of every grade, from Sher-
rvs TO the Bowery quick lunchroom-
If you are dining in Sherry's belmont
cos, the WRldorf-Astoriar the Cafe Mar
tin, the Holland House, Rector's, or
Shanley's, and you feel the need OF a
1oothpick you must order 1t. Then the
waiter goes somewhere and gets some
sharpened quilts for you
Very Bad Form.
That using toothpicks in the presence
OF others is very Dad form was the pos
itive dictum Of the managers Of all these
restaurants. They said thai such con-
duct by any of their patrons was prac-
tIcally unheard of.
I've have toothpicks, of course" said
one. but there is not one call in
month for them. The class of persons
who dine here know that II is unspeak-
ably offensive TO use toothpick In the
presence of others, particularly at tapie-
I'VE have toothpicks in a glass on the
cashiers desks, and OIIen men VIII ta6S
one as they leave the dining rooms. OI
couse. they do not stand on the steps
and use them"
Feel the Need.
At the other restaurants named the
managers had many interesting things
to add to the general statement one,
at a famous hotel, said that he mad
many times observed a patron take a
toothpick on leaving the dining room,
bite il in twain, and unostentatiously
chew half of it.
1T seems TO me they use IL because
they feel the smokers need Of some
thing between the teeth after dinner. 1t
eXclIes the secretion Of saliva, and pro
notes digestion, a doctor told me, ne
said.
I'm cosmopolitan place like this I
have been annoyed 10 see men picking
their teeth at the tables, just as l nave
trembled 10 see others put their knives
IN their mouths. But We cannot conduct
examinations in table manners before
we admit persons 10 our dining rooms.
So in Fifth Avenue the offensive use
of the tOothpick may be regarded as
negligible quantity. Not so in sixth
Avenue, the Twenties, Park Row, and
the Bowery.
Passing the Kicks.
There the toothpick is an institution
1t is regarded as extremely thOughtlcss
10 treat your lady friend 10 q portion
Of beef and without delicately passing
the toothpicks at the conclusion Of the
meal.
DO toothpicks cost us much?" said
the manager Of a great lunchroom sys-
TEN. We'll, you know they are very
cheap, but you ought TO see the number
we have 10 buy.
''I'H bet that a ton Of lumber is taken
out Of our restaurants every six months
in the form of toothpicks. I have stood
by a cashiers desk and seen man after
man grab anywhere from a dozen 10
fifty as he walked out.
What do they do with them? / am
satisfied that on the East Side there are
many persons who eat at our restau-
rants who save the expense Of kindlngs
by taking our tOothpicks-
Most OF our customers are not stylish,
and they do what they want 10, whether
IL is regarded as ill-mannered or not.
We will not let men without coats eat
in our places because there is always
objection 70 IL. Personally I think a
man who conducts himself properly AT
the table is less offensive with his ccat
of than is one wearing a coat who IS
jabbing q toothpick into his mouth in
the presence of other patrons
But we are here TO feed the people
and not TO teach them manners"