The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-18

and ninepence for sole; but. then.
the sole is one of the largest and best
the market can produce, and enough
for two portions. In the less ambi-
tious restaurants you are charged one
shilling and siXpence, and two portions
will cost three shillings. AS a rule,
in London or Paris you will find that
small prices mean small portions.
Tibbie Shells once let me see a very
large plate and a bell which she plac-
ed before Christopher North, when he
dined at her little inn by st. Mary's
Loeb. If Christopher North had been
served with the small portions COM
mon in the Latin Quarter, there would
have been strong language in the
'Noctes" and much ringing of the little
bell.
In 1852 my father took me to dine
at Simpsons, in the Strand We dned
in the second box upon your right as
you entered, and we had roast beef
and green peas for dinner. 1 had only
just left school, and l was much inn
pressed when l was told that l might
have as many green peas as l liked.
l went the year before last and dned
in the same box, and I again had roast
beef and green peas. l found the room
in which we had dined unchanged, but
forty years had proved too much for
the encourage even of Simpsons.
There was no waiter left in the res
taurant who had been there is 1862
An old friend of mine to whom 1 paid
my bill did not join the staff until
1854. l have always enjoyed dining at
Simpson's-the little oval shaped ia
bles wheeled up to your side with half
of salmon, half of a large turbet, or
a saddle of mutton. You were not
limited to portions; it was hospital
ity in a restaurant. l sometimes
think what pleasant dinners we might
have with people we have read about
in history or fiction. For example, you
might give a Charles Dickens dinner
and ask Tom Pinch, Mr.. Macawber
and Mrs. Camp to dine. am as a loss
to think where one could take her to
Princes. If l had to give a dinner to
Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith
and David Garrick l would not take
them to the Savoy; 1 would take
them to Simpsons.
At times we hear a great deal about
doing away with tips to walters. Up
to about 1872 there was no charge for
attendance at Simpsons. We gave
the walters threepence. Then they
introduced a charge of threepence for
attendance, and l do not believe there
was a regular customer who did not
continue to give the waiter threepence
for hlmSelI as OF ola.
The truth is. you will never do
away with tips to walters. | remember
an old gentleman who used TO dine
every night in the Cafe de la Paix in
Paris. He always gave the waiter a
franc and any odd coppers left after
paying his bill, but he had reward
for his generosity. NJ. de Garcon was
a friend of the chef. and when the old
gentleman came in at night he used
to tell him the best dishes on the carte
de Jour, speak TO him about the wealth
err, comfort him If he had the govt,
and was his best friend; and | am
sure that when the day came on which
he ate his last dinner a la carte any
gave his last pourboire, no one would
so sincerely regret him as the waiter
IN the crowded restaurant In the
Boulevard des Caoucines.
IL YOU have thoughts OF visiting the
theater and you are I'm doubt as 10
where TO dine. Try the Restaurant Ca
YOUR In Leicester square. NJ. Philippe
will give you an excellent table d'hote
dinner az moderate cost " you In
slst upon having n hors d'oeuvre and
one shilling extra. A. "a concession 10
his English friends. NJ. Philippe has
always roast beef or roast mutton on
his bill Of fare.
There arc many good restaurants IN
London that you would flnd diHicnlfy
In discovering for yourself You may
caI them the restaurants N the Latin
Ous4fsf. similar 90 hose in Paris ln
fhn maze ~ streets between the river
ana che Luxembourg. only % few min-
nas' walk from Flnca1lily Circus go-
lnF eastward, you ma yourself in
Dean street. on your rifhf le fno Res
fanranf kufOpefn. ~ originally be-